Chan's Scribbles

A cozy little corner for imaginary stories. Written by a devoted STAY, for fellow STAYs. Follow me on Insta as well to stay updated ❤️ @chantasticverse

[chantasticverse]

Stray Kids Masterlist

OT8:

You're cold Their love languages Protecting you You’re Drunk You’re shorter than him His favorite kisses He‘s clingy You’re the Same height / taller than him You’re showing him a Skzoo Edit He’s Doing your make up I need a Hug Them As boyfriends I need some Vitamin D

Bang Chan:

Headcannon: Dating Bang Chan One Shot: The things I love about you One Shot: Let me tell you what I see One Shot: You‘re on your period Headcannon: Going to a concert with Bang Chan One Shot: Living the Hotel life One Shot: Producers‘ lullaby One Shot: Romance in Italy (All around the world) One Shot: 03:04 am (After Midnight) One Shot: Aftershow (+18) One Shot: Summer by the Coast

Lee Know:

One Shot: Rest is a kind of love One Shot: Under Tokyo skies (All around the world) One Shot: 01:37 am (After Midnight) One Shot: Summer by the Coast

Changbin:

One Shot: Midnight play One Shot: Golden Lights in Berlin (All around the world) One Shot: 03:21 am (After Midnight) One Shot: Summer by the Coast

Hyunjin:

One Shot: Happy Birthday One Shot: it’s so romantic in Paris (All around the world) One Shot: 02:41 am (After Midnight) One Shot: Summer by the Coast

Han:

One Shot: Lookout, my Home One Shot: City of Angels (All around the world) One Shot: 01:11 am (After Midnight) One Shot: Summer by the Coast

Felix:

One Shot: Steam and Silence One Shot: Passenger Princess in Sydney (All around the world) One Shot: 03:37 am (After Midnight)

Seungmin:

One Shot: Thunderlove One Shot: Kisses, Chaos and London Rain (All around the world) One Shot: 02:21 am (After Midnight)

I.N.:

One Shot: Where the the day ends One Shot: Barcelona, with you (All around the world) One Shot: 04:31 am (After Midnight)

[chantasticverse]

Han: Summer by the Coast

Summary: A spontaneous road trip along the coast turns into one of those unforgettable summer days when you and Jisung abandon every plan and simply follow the road wherever it leads. After discovering a secluded viewpoint overlooking the ocean, the two of you spend the evening sharing snacks, playing music, teasing each other over gummy bears and enjoying the peaceful sunset together.

Word count: 2k Warnings: None

Making love out by the lake to our favorite song

Sipping whiskey out the bottle

Not thinking ‘bout tomorrow

Singing Sweet Home Alabama all summer long

Your throat was already sore from all the screaming, but you couldn’t help it. Being with Jisung in the car, roofless, the song on full volume, driving along the coast of this beautiful coastal town, wind ruffling your hair.

When Jisung had suggested to go on a little drive to explore this town you hadn’t expected to be on the road for such a long time. How much time had passed? Three, four hours? Neither of you had bothered to check.

Every time one road ended, another seemed to appear. Small fishing villages blurred into long stretches of empty beaches, followed by cliffs and hidden coves that looked like they’d been pulled straight from a postcard.

Not once had either of you asked where you were actually going. Because that had never been the point.

Jisung drummed one of his hands against the steering wheel, the other resting casually on the gear shift as he belted out the chorus. Of course he had sounded better than you, what a show off.

You glanced sideways at him, laughing as he exaggerated every lyric like he was performing in front of a sold out stadium.

“You know”, you teased between verses, “you kind of have a nice voice. Ever thought of becoming a singer?”

You looked back at you, a grin plastered on his face. “Nah, that’s not for me”, he joked and his hand shifted from the gear to your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. Without thinking, your own hand settled over his, your fingers absentmindedly tracing circles across the back of it as the music continued to play.

Then it got quiet, but the silence was kind of comfortable and gave your voice a much needed break.

Outside the road curved along the coastline, revealing another breathtaking view with every turn. The afternoon sun hung lower now, painting the ocean in shades of orange and gold. Fishing boats drifted lazily near the shore and every now and then you caught a glimpse of people scattered across quiet beaches below.

And then after some tome the road grew narrower, the small cafés and souvenir shops disappeared, replaced by dense pine trees that cast dancing shadows across the asphalt. The ocean vanished, leaving only glimpses of blue between the branches.

For several minutes, there wasn’t another car in sight – then something caught your eye. A weathered wooden sign stood half hidden beneath a tree.

Scenic viewpoint

An arrow pointed toward a narrow gravel road. “There”, you said, pointing. Jisung noticed it at the same time. “Oh that sounds promising.”

Without hesitation, he flicked on the indicator and turned onto the path. Loose stones crunched beneath the tires as the car slowly climbed uphill. Branches arched overhead, filtering the warm sunlight into patches that danced across the windshield. The climb lasted only a few minutes before the trees suddenly opened.

And the world seemed to stretch endlessly before you. Far below waves crashed gently against rugged cliffs, sending white foam swirling into clear turquoise water. The coastline curved for miles, disappearing into a soft blue haze where the ocean met the sky.

“Oh, wow”, you breathed out as Jisung slowly pulled the car into the small gravel parking area before switching off the engine. The music had stopped. The sudden quiet felt almost sacred.

Then as if sharing the same braincell, you climbed out at the same time. A gentle breeze greeted you, cooler than before, carrying the familiar scent of saltwater and wildflowers growing along the cliffside.

You could hear some distant cries of seagulls circling overheard, as you walked toward the wooden fence overlooking the cliff, resting your hands against the railing.

Jisung came to stand beside you, his shoulder brushing yours. “This is crazy. We’ve been driving around all day and somehow we ended up here. I can’t believe that there are no people here”, he breathed out and took the view in.

“Wait here”, he said and jogged back to the car. You frowned as curiosity followed while you watched him disappear behind the open trunk, hearing a little shuffling before he suddenly reappeared carrying something over his shoulder.

You blinked. “You brought your guitar? When did you pack that?”

He looked at you like you had just offended him with this question. “I always bring my guitar with me. You should know that.” 

“Ok, sorry for asking”, you raised your hands in defense while placed the guitar on the ground. “Oh wait, I forgot something!”, he now added and jogged back to the car. You looked at him in amusement. “What else have you got back there? A whole studio?”

He groaned as you heard more shuffling. “Don’t give me any ideas”, you heard him say and you rolled your eyes, drawing your attention back to the incredible view in front of you.

Then he returned – balancing a paper bag beneath one arm. You raised your eyebrows. “Hmm, that paper bags seems to be too small to carry a studio. Hmm, let me guess. Your patience?”

He playfully smacked your arm, letting out another groan. “You really are …”, he started but decided not to finish his sentence – instead he took a deep breath, knowing you were just trying to ragebait him.

“Anyway, don’t you want to know what’s really in that bag?”

“Enlighten me, Jisung.”

He proudly showed off the content. “Potato chips, gummy bears, cookies, soft drinks.”

You smiled at him in admiration. “Oh, you really came prepared”, you were touched by his thoughtfulness and gently pinched his cheek.

Together you wandered a little farther along the cliff until you found a patch of soft grass overlooking the water. Jisung spread an old picnic blanket he’d somehow also managed to hid in the trunk. “Where the hell did you hide all that stuff?  What else you got there? Maybe my theory of you having a damn studio in your trunk might be true?!” You shook your head and he just shot you a smug grin.

You settled onto the blanket beside him, stretching your legs out toward the endless ocean. The guitar rested across his lap while the snacks were scattered between the two of you. You grabbed a gummy bear, turning your body toward him. “Hey, wanna do that throw and catch thing?”

His eye lit up as he turned his body toward you as well, preparing himself. “Let’s do this.” He pointed toward his mouth and rolled his shoulder dramatically.

“Come on, give me your best shot.”

Holding back a smile, you tossed the gummy bear toward him.

He leaned forward dramatically and caught in perfectly. He threw both fists into the air. “YES!”

You clapped, actually being impressed that he caught it. “Not bad, Jisung. Not bad.”

He swallowed the gummy bear while looking at you proudly. “Again.”

The next few attempts were a mixture of spectacular catches and complete failures. One gummy bear bounced harmlessly off his forehead, another landed somewhere in the grass.

Then you grabbed another gummy bear and looked at him expectingly. “Ok, are you ready?”

He straightened up immediately. “Always.”

You tossed it a little higher this time. Jisung leaned back, mouth open widely.

Instead of landing anywhere near it, the gummy bear smacked directly into his left eye. “OW!”

His hand flew to his face. You stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. “Oh my god!”

“I’ve been attacked, why do you hate me so much?!”

“It was a gummy bear!”

“It had malicious intent!”

He squeezed one eye shut, dramatically groaning as he rubbed at it.

“I can’t see.”

“Oh, stop.”

“I am serious!”

“You are not.”

“My vision.”

He sighed dramatically. “It’s over.”

Still laughing, you shuffled closer until your knees bumped against his. “Let me see, mister dramatic.”

He kept his hand firmly over his eye. “I think it’s swelling.”

You gently reached for his wrist. “Come here.”

Reluctantly, he lowered his hand just enough for you to inspect his eye. You leaned in, your face only inches from his now. “Hm..”  You tilted his chin slightly. “I don’t think there’s anything-“

Before you could finish your sentence, his arm suddenly looped around your neck. “Gotcha!”

“What-“

He pulled you sideways into an exaggerated headlock, laughing so hard he could barely hold on.

“Oh my gosh, Jisung!”

“You fell for it! What are you going to do about it, huh?!”, he laughed and wiggled you around in his arms.

You couldn’t help but laugh despite yourself as you tried to wiggle free. “You menace!”

“You were so concerned!”

“I thought I blinded you with a gummy bear!”

“I know!”

“Next time I hit your eye with a gummy bear and I really hurt you, I won’t believe you!”

He dissolved into another fit of laughter, the sound echoing across the empty viewpoint. He finally loosened his grip, allowing you to escape. The second you sat back up, you shoved his shoulder. “That’s for scaring me.”

He let out another laugh. “Okay, I deserved that.”

Then you reached into the bag again. He watched your hand suspiciously. “What are you doing?”

Without answering you flicked another gummy bear directly at his forehead. Bonk. He blinked. “…Rude.”

The sun had begun its slow descent, bathing everything in a warm amber glow. Jisung absentmindedly adjusted the guitar in his lap. Then he started strumming a few quiet chords – the melody drifted into the open air, mixing with the sound of the ocean. It was a soft, gentle melody.

You watched his fingers move across the strings with practiced ease, enjoying the moment. “I love your voice”, you said quietly after he began humming along. He smiled without looking up. “That means a lot coming from you”, he whispered and you smiled up at him.

Eventually you shifted a little closer until your shoulder rested comfortably against his. He noticed immediately. Without saying anything, he placed the guitar next to him on the blanket and wrapped one around round your shoulder, gently pulling you against his side.

Your head naturally found its place against his chest and you could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath the thin fabric of his shirt. “You comfy?”, he asked softly.

“Mhm.”

“I can move if your neck-“

“No.”

You smiled against him. “Don’t, it’s perfect like that.”

His hand came to rest on your upper arm, rubbing gentle circles through the sleeve of your shirt. The gesture was so natural it made your chest ache in the best way possible.

“I wish days like this lasted longer”, you whispered. Jisung was quiet for a moment.

“I don’t.”

You lifted your head to look at him. “Why?”

“I think they’re special because they end. If every day felt like today, we’d probably stop noticing how beautiful it is.”

You followed his gaze toward the ocean. The last rays of sunlight shimmered across the water like gold.

“So instead …” He intertwined his fingers with yours. “We just remember them.” His thumb brushed slowly across the back of your hand. “And then, months from now one random Tuesday will feel a little easier because we’ll remember getting lost on a coastal road, eating gummy bears on a cliff and watching the sunset together.”

A quiet laugh escaped you. “When you put it like that …”

He looked down at you.

“What?”

“It sounds like the perfect day.”

Jisung’s smile softened. “I think it was.”

You looked back toward the ocean, letting yourself sink into the warmth of his embrace.

“So, by any chance. Did you also pack some iced coffee?”, you interrupted the silence and you could feel his chest vibrate against your beck, before he pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head. “What do you think?”

With that he grabbed the bag, pulling out two bottles of coffee. You shook your head, grabbing one and relaxed back into him. “You are like a genie”, you snickered and took a sip.

He chuckled and pressed you closer to him. “I will make sure to grant you any wish you have.”

[chantasticverse]

Hyunjin: Summer by the Coast

Summary: While exploring an unmarked coastal trail, you and Hyunjin discover a breathtaking hidden cliff overlooking the sea. As you settle down to read, Hyunjin immediately begins sketching, refusing to let you see his drawing despite your growing curiosity.

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

Word count: 2k Warnings: none

The path wasn’t on any map you had downloaded. It had begun as a proper coastal trail, marked with faded wooden posts and occasional signs warning visitors not to stray too close to the edge. But somehow after the old lighthouse, the path had split into several narrow tracks worn by other hikers.

“Left?”, you asked.

Hyunjin looked down one trail, then the other. “I have absolutely no idea.”

“So … left?”

“So left.”

You laughed as you stepped into knee-high grass, brushing away wildflowers that leaned across the path. The afternoon sun hung comfortably overhead, warm without being oppressive and the sea stayed beside them like a constant companion.

Hyunjin and you loved exploring – it had become your tradition. Whenever you visited somewhere new, you would dedicate at least one day to getting deliberately lost. You loved forgotten roads, abandoned piers and tiny cafés with handpainted menus.

The trail narrowed until it barely deserved the name anymore. Shrubs reached across it, forcing you to duck beneath branches and step carefully over uneven rocks. The ocean occasionally disappeared behind thick patches of coastal pine before revealing itself again in brilliant flashes of blue.

“I think we’re almost at a dead end”, you said.

Hyunjin looked at you. “You already said that three times today.”

You lightly punched his shoulder. “And I’ve been wrong three times.”

“So statistically …”

“I’m due.”

He smiled down at you in an adoring way and pinched your cheek softly. “You’re adorable when you’re trying to sound scientific.”

You huffed and took another careful step. “I am always adorable.”

He clicked his tongue. “Of course.”

Suddenly the ground began to rise. Not steeply, just enough that you found yourselves climbing without noticing until the wind grew stronger and the trees started thinning. Then you reached the end of the path and arrived at the beginning of something else.

Ahead of you, the coastline opened into an enormous cliff, taller than anything you had seen all day. Weathered stone stretched outward into the sea, layered in shades of gray and amber where centuries of wind and waved had carved impossible shapes into the rock. Far below, the ocean crashed against black stone with a sound that felt more than head. The horizon seemed endless.

It felt like entering a new world, it was just so … breathtaking.

“Wow”, you whispered finally. Hyunjin nodded, as you walked carefully toward the grassy edge, stopping several meters back. The wind tugged at your shirt and sent oose strands of hair across your face.

“Google didn’t show this”, you said and enjoyed the peace for a second.

“Yeah, but good for us. It kind of feels …”, he started and you immediately what he was on about.

“Private.”

The afternoon light shifted imperceptibly, turning the water from a bright summer blue into something softer, silver where the sun skimmed across the surface. Every wave looked different from the last and every gust of wind seemed to redraw the ocean.

You wandered a little farther along the grassy edge, careful not to get too close. Tiny purple flowers pushed through cracks in the rock and even some butterflies seemed to have had lost their way up here.

Then you found one random white shell on the ground. You crouched to pick it up – it was pretty, a perfect souvenir.

Behind you, fabric rustled. You turned around just in time to see Hyunjin dropping his backpack onto the ground. You watched as he pulled out the familiar sketchbook with its worn corners, followed by a pencil case that somehow held every graphite pencil ever manufactured.

“So that’s the spot?”, you smiled at him softly and he nodded frantically. “It’s perfect.”

Slowly you sat down yourself, some space in between as, while you pulled out a book. It was a thing you did. You wandered around, looking for the perfect place for Hyunjin to draw and for you to read. Even though you did your own thing, you still spent time together – far away from your busy lives.

He settled onto the grass, crossing one leg beneath the other before resting the sketchbook against his knee. For a surprisingly long time he didn’t move. He just looked. Consumed the view in front of him. He looked like he was trying to soak everything up with all his senses.

His eyes traveled across the cliff, lingering on the rocks below before following the line where the ocean met the sky. His head tilted slightly as if he were quietly measuring distances only he could see.

You smiled to yourself and opened your book, reading through the first few pages

You could hear his pen scraping over the paper. The background noise blending in with the soft waves crashing against the shore.  The sound became almost rhythmic. The waves, the wind, the scratch of graphite against paper.

You tried to focus on the novel in your hands, but every few paragraphs your eyes drifted away from the page. It wasn’t that the story was bad – it simply couldn’t compete with the view surrounding you.

The sea stretched endlessly before you, glittering beneath the afternoon sun. Every now and then a stronger gust of wind swept over the cliff, carrying the scent of saltwater and sending your hair flying into your face. It was so captivating that you didn’t realize how much time actually had passed.

Without looking up from his sketchbook, Hyunjin reached over and gently tucked a loose strand behind your ear. It was such an automatic gesture that it made you smile. Even now his attention never left the page. You shook your head with a quiet laugh before returning to your book. Or more like trying to.

Another few pages passed before curiosity finally won. You closed the novel around your finger to keep your place and glanced toward him. His brows were slightly furrowed, lower lip caught between his teeth as his pencil moved with confidence.

You couldn’t help but admire him, there was something so peaceful about watching him draw. As if the rest of the world disappeared whenever he had a pencil in his hand. You quietly got up, stretching your legs. “I am going to walk around a bit.”

For the first time in forever he lifted his head, looking at you with that lovely glimmer in his eyes. “Ok, but be careful”, he smiled at you and continued his drawing, that you still haven’t seen.

You wandered closer to the edge again, careful to stay well back from the drop. From here, the waves looked impossibly small despite the thunderous sound they made as they crashed against the rocks below. They came endlessly one after another, dissolving into white foam before another replaced them.

Then a little movement beside your foot caught your attention. A butterfly.

Its wings fluttered uncertainly before it landed on one of the tiny flowers growing from the ground. You crouched down, smiling to yourself.

Behind you, graphite continued gliding across paper. Hyunjin looked up, but not at the ocean. He was looking at you.

The afternoon light wrapped around your silhouette, the breeze lifting your shirt ever so slightly while your hair danced around your shoulders. You were completely unaware, studying the butterfly with genuine fascination, as if it were the most extraordinary thing you’d seen all day.

Hyunjin smiled – the moment he had been waiting for was finally there. His pencil moved quickly. He started off with the curve of your shoulder, then continued with the loose strands of hair of the wind refused to leave alone.

He had actually started sketching the cliff, but it only lasted three lines. Because you had walked into his view and everything else had become background.

The cliff remained and so did the ocean. But only because you were standing in front of it.

After another few minutes you wandered back, brushing invisible dirt from your jeans before dropping onto the grass beside him again. “You’ve been drawing forever.”

“Good work takes some time”, he said and lifted his eyes to look at you. “What chapter are you on?”

“Twenty two.”

“You’ve read that much?”

“I was trying to.”

“Were you distracted?”

“You.”

He looked up, pretending to look offended. “ME?!”

“Have you looked at yourself? You look like that”, you emphasized that with wild hand gestures, “and then the wind keeps blowing through your hair, making you look like a damn movie character from a romance movie.”

He chuckled lowly, while his eyes fixated the sheet in front of him, his ears turning all pink.

“I am just keeping you company”, he said lowly and your heart immediately softened at his tone. Comfortable silence settled between you and you tucked your legs beneath yourself, watching the horizon.

“The ocean keeps moving”, he said, breaking the silence and you nodded slowly. “It does.”

“Not matter how long you look at it.”

His pencil paused. “It’s already different.”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful”, you said. “I guess that’s why you’re drawing it.”

He looked down at the sketchbook again. “Something like that.”

You didn’t notice the small smile that tugged at his lips, which made you all curious, so you tried to shift closer, getting a peek over his shoulder, but he reacted instantly, angling the sketchbook away. “Hey, I am not done!”

You pouted. “You’ve shown me unfinished sketches before.”

“Not this one.”

“Why?”

“Just wait, it’ll be worth it.” He reached over, softly pinching your cheek and continued drawing, carefully making sure you’re not lurking. You sighed dramatically and leaned back again. “Whatever.” You tried acting like you didn’t care, but you actually couldn’t wait for him to show it to you. Normally he wasn’t that secretive about his drawings.  

Minutes passed in silence, the sound of his pen scraping across the paper seemed to get louder with each minute. The tension got more and unbearable until you were about to literally explode. But then finally you heard him say.

“It’s finished.”

Your head snapped up immediately. “Finally!”

He laughed quietly as you scooted closer until your knees brushed against his. He looked down at his sketchbook that he had closed now. For the first time all afternoon, he actually seemed nervous. It caught you off guard. Normally, he never hesitated to show you his drawings. If anything, he was usually excited to point out tiny details.

He rubbed the edge of the page with his thumb. “Don’t laugh.”

Your smile immediately softened. “When have I ever laughed at your drawings?” He stayed quiet. “Exactly.”

He exhaled through his nose – and then slowly he opened the sketchbook again.

You looked down. At first, your brain registered exactly what you’d expected – the cliff, the ocean stretching in the background, the afternoon light dancing across the water. You’re your eyes settled on the person sitting near the edge.

A girl. Her knees pulled to her chest, her hair caught by the wind, your shirt, your shoes.

It wasn’t just someone. It was you.

Your breath caught. “You …”

You looked back up at him. “I thought you were drawing the view.”

He reached over, catching your chin in between his thumb and index finger. His gaze lingered on your lips, before they found your eyes. “I did.”

Those two words made your heart stutter and he leaned in, his breath now fanning over your skin. “The ocean keeps moving”, he started, his forehead now leaning against yours, his eyes closed. “Everything out there changes every second”, he said quietly. “The waves, the wind, the colors.”

He leaned back, opening his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. “But you stayed.”

This man really wanted to destroy you. “Hyunjin”, you whispered and pressed your lips against his, catching them in a soft kiss. “You really want to kill me, huh?”, you mumbled against his lips, now wrapping your arms around him, pulling you firmly against you.

He chuckled softly against your shoulder, his hands wrapping around your back.

He had chucked that sketch behind him on the ground and now you were facing it again.

He hadn’t drawn the cliff because he thought it was beautiful. He had drawn the place because you had been in it.

Your fingers combed through his hair, while you moved your head, your lips now brushing his temple. “My own little artist.”

[chantasticverse]

Changbin: Summer by the Coast

Summary: A carefree summer beach festival turns into a day full of laughter, playful competition, and quiet romance between you and Changbin. After hilariously battling each other at festival games, teasing one another over stolen fries and a nearly devoured corndog, the two of you wander away from the crowds as the sun begins to set.

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

The beach festival was everything summer was supposed to be. The warm sand stretched endlessly beneath your feet, already carrying the heat of the afternoon sun, while waves rolled lazily onto the shore only a few meters away. Music drifted through the salty air from the main stage, blending with the laughter of hundreds of people wandering between food trucks, game booths and handmade market stalls. Bright flags fluttered overhead in the ocean breeze and the scent of sunscreen mixed with grilled food, fresh fruit and sugary funnel cakes.

It was loud, crowded and a little chaotic, but right now there was no other place you’d rather wanted to be at.

Changbin walked beside you with his sunglasses perched on top of his head instead of over his eyes, one hand lazily intertwined with yours while the other held an iced lemonade that he already somehow managed to spill down his wrist.

And he looked perfect.

The sunlight caught the fair scar on his chin as he smiled at something happening on the stage in the distance and for a second you found yourself looking at him instead of everything else around you.

He caught you staring and a smug grin spread across his face. “You think I’m pretty?”, he grinned and lightly bumped his shoulder against you.

You immediately rolled your eyes. “I was just wondering how someone manages to spill a drink within two seconds after he bought it.”

“I was distracted.”

“By?”

“You.”

“Ah, Changbin, don’t try to cover up your clumsiness”, you moaned.

He gasped dramatically. “What do you mean by that? That was genuine.” He bumped his shoulder against yours again, nearly making you stumble in the sand before wrapping an arm around your waist to steady you again.

“There I saved you”, he said proudly.

“You’re the reason I almost fell.”

“But I saved you.”

“Please just stop.”

The festival stretched across almost the entire beach and every few steps there seemed to be something new to discover. Live bands performed on two different stages, artists pained portraits beneath striped tents, children ran around with painted faces and every booth seemed determined to lure people in with oversized prizes hanging from the ceilings.

That’s when his eyes immediately locked onto one particular booth. Festival games.

He looked at you innocently and you knew that look. “Absolutely not.”

“What?”

“I know that look.”

“What do you mean?”

“The look that says you’re about to become incredibly competitive.”

“I am not competitive.”

You simply stared at him, your eyebrows raised.

“Do I need to remind you that almost a month ago you almost threw hands with a twelve year old over a mini golf game?”

He sighed. “He definitely cheated.”

“Get a grip, it’s a game where you hit your balls into holes. It’s not like you do it anyway with me, why were you so worked up?”

He quickly covered your mouth with his hand, shushing you. “YA, you can’t just say stuff like that in the public?!”

You playfully bit into his palm and he immediately let go, dramatically gasping. “And now you’re biting me? How dare you?!”

You laughed, shaking your head. He then gently tugged your hand. “Come on. One game.”

Now you were the one who sighed, but you let yourself be pulled toward the booth anyway.

The game as simple – throw beanbags into different sized holes for points. The employee explained the rules before handing each of you five beanbags. Changbin spun one dramatically in his hand like a professional athlete preparing for a championship throw.

“I’d just like everyone to know”, he announced, “that I’ve been training my entire life for this moment.”

The employee looked mildly amused. You on the other hand looked embarrassed.

His first throw completely missed the board. “… that one was a practice throw.”

You puckered your lips, preparing yourself for your first throw.

You tossed the first bag – straight through the highest scoring hole. “Oh?!”

The second followed. Then the third.

By the time you finished every single throw had landed. The employee smiled. “Perfect score.”

Binnie blinked. “No.”

You tried not to laugh.

He stepped up for his remaining throws with renewed determination. Every toss became more aggressive than the last.

One bounced off the edge. Another landed in the lowest scoring hole. The final score wasn’t even close. The employee handed you a small plush dolphin. You thanked him before turning around to find your boyfriend standing with his hands on his hips. “You cheated.”

“How could I possibly cheat on a game like that?”

“You somehow did.”

You exhaled quietly and pushed the plushie to his chest. “If it’s so important to you, I can give you the plushie.”

He shook his head almost aggressively. “It’s not about the prize!”, he said, folding his arms across his chest with all the dramatic indignation he could muster. Great, now he was sulking.

“It’s about the principle.”

You bit back your laugh. “What principle?”

“That I should’ve won.”

“You missed the board.”

“The board moved.”

“The wooden board.”

“Yes.”

“…”

“It shifted.”

“You sound ridiculous.”

“I’ve been robbed!”

You reached up to poke his cheek, but he turned his head away with an exaggerated huff.

“Oh, so now you’re ignoring me?”

He stayed silent.

You laughed despite yourself and turned around, slipping your fingers between his despite his attempt to act offended. “You’re a sore loser.”

Still silent, though he squeezed your hand in affection. You rolled your eyes and tugged him along to the next booth before he could continue defending his wounded pride.

This one was a ring toss. Five wooden rings. Three bottles in each row. Should be simple.

His expression immediately brightened. “I’ve got this.”

You hummed, as the employee handed you both your rings.

“Ladies first”, Changbin said, motioning for you to start.

You stepped up, tossing the first ring, which bounced off. The second landed perfectly around the middle bottle.

“Ohh”, Changbin sang dramatically. “Only one.”

You ignored him and finished your remaining throws – two rings landed, three missed. Not amazing, but also not terrible.

Changbin cracked his knuckles. “Watch and learn.”

His first throw flew way too hard and knocked over an entire bottle instead of landing around it. The employee quietly stood it back up. His second ring somehow landed around a bottle. The third missed. The fourth bounced back and almost hit him in the chest. The fifth … landed.

He stared at it for a full second before throwing both fists into the air. “YES, I WIN!”

“You tied me.”

“I didn’t lose tho.”

The employee handed each of you a tiny packet of fruit gummies as consolation prizes. Changbin looked at the packet in his hand. Then at yours. “Well, this feels underwhelming.”

“You were celebrating like you won a car.”

He grinned, the sulking from five minutes ago already completely forgotten. Together you wandered farther through the festival, stopping every minutes whenever something caught your attention – his hand never let go of yours for long. Even when he stopped to inspect something, he’d hook a finger through yours as if he was afraid the crowd might carry you away.

Then your stomach started growling and his head shot to you. Without saying another word he pulled you toward the food stalls. He knew exactly what you needed.

A few minutes later the two of you sat on the sand, shoes kicked off. You had loaded fries covered in cheese and garlic sauce. He leaned over immediately. “Can I have one?”

You looked at the massive corndog in his hand, then at him.

“One.”

“Promise.”

You held out the tray. He grabbed a fry. Then another. Then somehow an entire handful.

“Hey!”

“What?”

“That wasn’t one bite!”

“Okey, I am sorry. They tasted better because they were yours.”

“Then give me a bite of your corn dog.”

He looked down at his corndog, clearly thinking it through. He hated sharing his food.

Then after some seconds: “Just one bite.”

“Yeah, yeah sure.”

You leaned forward, opened your mouth and took one massive bite, almost consuming the whole thing in that process. His jaw dropped in disbelief as he was holding the pathetically little remains of his beloved corndog.

“YAH”, he exclaimed, his gaze flicking between you and his corndog.

You chewed in satisfaction. “That feeling sucks, right?”

“You said one bite!”

“I meant a normal person’s bite! Your mouth unhinged like a snake!”

“I am a normal person.”

“You absolutely are not.”

Still laughing, you leaned your head against his shoulder. “Now we’re even.”

As the afternoon faded into evening, the festival slowly shifted. The sunlight turned everything golden. Without saying much, he intertwined your fingers with his. “Let’s get away from the crowd.”

You followed him down the shoreline until the music became distant and only the waves remained. You sat together on a quiet stretch of sand, the breeze lifted your hair. He absentmindedly tucked a loose strand behind your ear, as he looked at you in an adoring way.

The dolphin that you won was sitting between the two of you, facing the ocean like it belonged there.

“I am sorry about the fries”, he suddenly said, his finger ghosting over your cheekbone now. You chuckled lowly, snuggling into his touch. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now?” He smiled at you. For a moment, neither of you spoke. Then he opened his arm without saying anything. An invitation.

You accepted immediately, scooting across the towel until you were tucked against his side, your head resting comfortably on his shoulder. His chin came to rest lightly against the top of your head. “I really like this part of festivals.”

“The quiet part?”

“The part where everyone else is busy and I get you all to myself.”

You smiled. “You’ve had me all day.”

“Not like how I wanted. I want it like this. Just you and me, you leaning into me. I like it better when it’s just us.” Something about the way he said it, made your heart squeeze. “You big softie.”

He clicked his tongue before lightly flicking your forehead. “Only for you.”

And then the first firework of the evening suddenly burst across the sky – you both looked up. A brilliant bloom of gold reflected across the water, then another exploded in blue, then pink, then silver. The beach erupted in cheers somewhere behind you, but from where you sit, felt like the show belonged only to the two of you.

He reached for your hand, which you squeezed. “I had a really good day”, you whispered, your eyes now on him. He kissed your temple, his lips soft against your skin. Hi thumb slowly traced lazy circles over the back of your hand before he lifted your intertwined fingers and rested them against his chest.

“You know”, he started. “Even though I seemed like a sore loser today.”

“Sore loser? The biggest underestimation of the century”, you interrupted and he shot you a dumbfounded look.

“… however, I was actually happy that you won the first round and that you won the dolphin. It’s really cute.” He picked it up, rubbing the soft plush against your cheek, until you burst out into a fit of giggles.

“And I loved that you were laughing all day, you seemed so carefree.” His voice had become softer now, almost drowned out by the waves.

You looked at him. “You always know how to make me laugh”, you admitted quietly.

“I try.”

“No... you don't. It just comes naturally to you.” You smiled, reaching up to gently smooth a few strands of hair away from his forehead. His expression softened even further. Your fingers absentmindedly traced over the small scar on his chin – the one you’d noticed earlier that afternoon when the sunlight had caught it. He leaned into your touch without even realizing it.

The fireworks cracked overhead again, painting streaks of gold across the ocean, but he only had eyes for you. “You are so beautiful”, he whispered quietly. You felt yourself instinctively move closer until there wasn’t any space left between you. His arm wrapped around your waist without hesitation, pulling you onto his lap so easily it felt practiced.

Your knees settled on either side of his haps as you tucked yourself against him, your forehead resting against his. “And you’re the prettiest”, you whispered against his skin.

[chantasticverse]

Lee Know: Summer by the Coast

Summary: After a peaceful day at their seaside getaway, you and Minho spend the evening by a bonfire on the beach, roasting marshmallows and teasing each other as the waves roll in. Beneath the stars, playful banter gradually gives way to heartfelt confessions as Minho quietly admits all the little things he loves about you. Curled together by the fire, the two of you enjoy the comfort of simply existing in each other's presence

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

Word count: 2k Warnings: None (just some swearing)

The bonfire crackled softly against the soundtrack of the sea. Beyond the dunes, waves rolled onto the shore, glowing faintly beneath the moonlight. The tide was coming in, carrying with it the familiar scent of salt and seaweed that had become the scent of home.

You stretched your legs toward the fire and held a marshmallow over the flames.

“You’re burning it”, Minho commented, looking at your marshmallow intensively, like he was trying to keep it from burning with just his mind.

“I’m not.”

“It’s literally on fire.” You glanced down. The marshmallow had indeed become a tiny torch. “Oh fuck.”

You immediately removed it from the fire and started to blow on it, as if that would’ve helped in any way.  He just shook his head in disappointed and muttered something like “pathetic” under his breath only to realize that his own marshmallow caught on fire as well. He opened his eyes, frantically pulling back and doing the exact same thing as you: Blowing on it, trying to minimize the damage.

You shot him a look, cocking your eyebrow at him. “Who are you calling pathetic?”

He stuffed that poor burned mallow into his mouth, ignoring your comment, while munching on it. You chuckled and stuffed your burned marshmallow as well into your mouth – it didn’t taste bad, just … special.

The firelight danced across his face and now you were able to catch the smile he always tried – and failed – to hide. For a moment you simply sat there, listening to the waves.

Summer had settled over the coast weeks ago, wrapping everything in long golden afternoons and warm evenings that seemed to stretch forever. The little cottage you rented for your little getaway sat only a few hundred steps from the beach, tucked behind sea grass and weathered fences.

It was a nice break from the stressful everyday life. Sunrises instead of alarms, the air was warm and the ocean was calm.

Now the stars had arrived in impossible numbers overhead.

You exhaled softly and leaned back on your hands. “I don’t want this so end.”

He looked up at you, his eyes scanning you, before he leaned back on his hands as well, mirroring you. “That’s because you’re physically incapable of experiencing a pleasant moment without immediately mourning its future death.”

You turned your head toward him. “Wow, what a way to phrase this.”

He shrugged. “You know I am right.”

You playfully hit his shoulder. “Shut up. You could’ve said something like – I don’t know – Yeah me too?”

He tsked. “Nah, why would I do that?”

You rolled your eyes. “Because normal people comfort each other.”

“Who said I was normal? How long have you known me?”

Now you were the one who tsked. “Fair point.”

The conversation dissolved into silence again. The fire popped, sending a spray of sparks into the night. Somewhere farther down the beach, someone laughed before the sound was swallowed by the wind.

You watched the flames dance for a while. The ocean rolled steadily onto the shore, a constant rhythm beneath everything else. A breeze drifted through, cool enough to raise goosebumps on your arms.

His gaze fell on your arms. “You cold?”

“No, I am just reacting to nature.”

He stared at you. “What does that even mean?”

“It means mind your business.”

He snorted and shook his head. “Well, too bad that I can’t control the weather.”

“Are you seriously quoting the 70s show?”

He laughed quietly. “It’s a classic. My job apparently making sure you don’t freeze to death because you’re too stubborn to bring a sweater with you.”

Before you could argue, he grabbed the hoodie lying beside him and tossed it at your face. The fabric landed directly over your head.

“Ow.”

“Come on, the hoodie weighs like three grams.”

You mumbled something inaudible, but pulled it on anyway.

Minho watched the entire process with a smug process. The warmth from the hoodie settled around you and it just smelled like him

“See? Better already.”

“Whatever”, you mumbled and pulled your knees to your chest, resting your chin on it, before collecting some sand between your fingers and throwing it at him.

“Mhm.”

You glanced at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

“That wasn’t a nothing Mhm.”

He smiled into the fire. “I am just thinking.”

You narrowed your eyes immediately. That was the thing about Minho. His mind and thoughts were unpredictable. You thought you had seen and heard it all, but then he proved you wrong.

“What about?”

His gaze drifted from the flames back to you. The oversized sleeves swallowing your hands, the way you were curled into yourself like you’d been personally offended by the breeze.

“You.”

You tilted your head. “Ok and what about me?”

“You’re cute.”

You blinked. That was unexpected in a situation like that.

“What?”

Minho didn’t even look embarrassed. If anything, he looked amused by your reaction. He just loved teasing you. He loved that he had that effect on you.

“You heard me.”

“Yeah I did, but … I am surprised.”

“Why?”

“Because usually when you say you’re thinking about me, it’s followed by some kind of insult.”

“That comes after.”

You laughed and shook your head, looking back toward the ocean. A smile lingered on your face still.

His gaze never left yours as he looked at you in admiration, softer. He didn’t even notice it, but he scooted closer to you. His face was now close to yours – so close you could feel his breath on your skin. You turned your head toward him, facing him now.

His eyes were shimmering under the moonlight. Gosh you could’ve looked at him the whole night. He had the most beautiful eyes. The type that you could get lost into. And seeing him like this – off guard, soft, just him being him – made your heart flatter, that you forgot about the teasing atmosphere.

You shot him a soft smile, before you lifted your hand and brushed his hair out of his hair. When your thumb found his cheek, barely touching him, he broke the silence. “You know what my favorite part of you is?” His voice was so quiet, you could barely hear it.

“What?”

You felt his hand on your back, his hand gliding up and down in an almost absentminded way. “Your brain.”

“My brain?” You stared at him, waiting for another affectionate insult, but it never came. “Yeah”, he started softly. “You care about things. You spend twenty minutes talking about some random book. Or some old lady you met once.”

You laughed. “She was nice, he gave me very wise advices.”

He chuckled lowly. “I know. I am not complaining.” His hand wandered up, to the back of your ear, caressing the shell. “I love listening to you when you talk about the things you love. It’s like my personal podcast”, he continued.

You puckered your lips. “Maybe I should start charging you.”

He groaned and his hand now landed on your knees, squeezing them tightly. “You had to ruin it.”

Your heart warmed up at the sound of his laugh and you softly flicked his forehead. “Now you know how I feel like, when you do that.”

His gaze drifted to your knees and he gave them a small nudge. “Move.”

You frowned.

“What?”

“Move.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

Another nudge.

You sighed dramatically and shifted your legs apart. Immediately, satisfaction flashed across his face. A second later he stretched out on the sand, resting his head on your lap as if that had been the goal all day all along.

The weight of his head against you was kind of comforting and your hand had already found its way into his hair. Completely on instinct. The second your fingers brushed through it, his eyes fluttered shut and you smiled.

“I know that you have the smug grin on your face in this very moment”, he said, eyes still closed. You affectionately pulled his hair and instead of complaining he sighed contently. “You know you like it”, you replied and continued to slowly massage his scalp. He groaned dramatically.

The ocean continued its endless rhythm and the fire burned lower. For a while, the two of you stayed exactly like that. His head on your lap, your fingers drifting through his hair, the stars overhead, the world quiet around you.

Eventually he opened his eyes again and looked at you. Then he raised his eyebrows. “Oh my god, you have something on your face”, he exclaimed. You rolled your eyes. “If you say something like ‘ugliness’, I swear you’re gonna sleep outside, I-“, you started, but he quickly shushed you when he put his hand on the nape of your neck and slowly pulled you toward him.

“No, I mean it”, he said seriously and looked at you for a moment as if he wanted to check something thoroughly. “What-?”, before you could continue he pressed his lips on yours. It was a soft kiss, that you immediately relaxed into. His fingers pressed more firmly into your skin as he slowly pulled back, only to dive in again and press another peck on your lips.

“You had something on your face. A missing kiss”, he said smugly and relaxed back into your lap, closing his eyes again, as if he had not just given you the craziest whiplash of your life.

You blinked a couple of times, trying to make sense of what had just happed. You opened your mouth, but the words stayed stuck in your throat. That man was so ruthless, but smooth at same time.

Then he opened one eye, because of course, he had to see what he had done to you. When he saw how flabbergasted you were, he broke out into loud laughter that echoed across the beach and into the night.  “Ah, you should see your face, you look so dumb now.”

Oh yeah, that’s the Lee Know you knew.

You joined in the laughter. “Oh my god Minho, you are probably so right”, you laughed, which confused him so he stopped. But you continued and closed your eyes now. You laughed like a manic. When you caught a glimpse of his face, you could see that he was beginning to feel terrified by the sudden outburst of laughter.

“Jagi, are you okay?”, you could hear him say, but you just continued. You closed your eyes again and tilted your head back. “Yes, I must’ve looked so dumb. You know what? I should’ve seen it coming. I am so stupid, that I wasn’t prepared”, you continued and grabbed his head, shaking it between your hands.

When you opened your eyes, you laughed harder, but not because you wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine. Because of the face that HE now pulled. He was genuinely scared.

You abruptly stopped laughing and stared into his soul.

His eyes were wide open and he looked like he was about so poop himself.

You pulled the best poker face you could manage. A few seconds passed in silence.

Then you finally opened your mouth. “Ah, you should see your face. You look so dumb now”, you repeated his words from earlier and patted his cheek in affection.

His head shot up, he left your lap immediately and sat up next to you. “Why did you do that?! Are you crazy? I was terrified!”, he gasped dramatically, covering his chest with one hand.

You smiled in satisfaction and poked his side. “I am just matching your freak”, you replied.

He pouted. “Don’t ever do that again.” With those words he stood up, reaching his hand out for you to grab. “I think it’s time to go to bed”, he concluded and looked at you expectingly. The fire had almost burnt out, leaving behind only a few glowing embers.

Before you could protest, you were interrupted by a yawn, causing your eyes to tear.

“Mhm”, he hummed and just grabbed your hand, pulling you up. “How about we just go to bed and sleep in tomorrow – or let’s day today since it’s past midnight. And then I will make you some breakfast.” It sounded cute, but you just knew that was not it yet.

“I will make sure that you don’t lose it again, I never want to experience that ever again. That was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.”

You nodded. If he was going to make you breakfast, he could insult you all you want, because his cooking was the best thing in the world – a win is a win.

[chantasticverse]

Stray Kids: I need some vitamin D

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

Word count: 2,9k Warnings: suggestive themes, crack

Bang Chan

You were sitting on the couch scrolling through your phone, when you noticed that you ran out of Vitamin D pills, so you quickly texted Chris.

I need some vitamin D please.

Chris was stuck in traffic and only half paying attention. He read the message, raised an eyebrow and immediately smiled. Wow, that’s a very direct text for a random Thursday afternoon.

On the way home, he stopped at a flower shop.

“Big anniversary?”, the cashier asked.

“No”, Chris said proudly. “Just being a good boyfriend.”

By the time he got home, he could barely contain his excitement. When he went through the door and he stood there in front of you, you looked up at him from the couch. You stared at him. “Chris, why do you have flowers?”

“They are for you.”

“Why? You about to propose?”

He laughed. “No, I’m just responding to your text.”

You frowned, tilting your head. “My text?”

He playfully nudged your shoulder now. “Silly, you know. The vitamin D text.”

Then you blinked and looked around. “Where are the vitamins?!”

His smile vanished so fast from his face. He looked like you had just smacked him.

“That what?”

“The vitamin D.”

“The vitamin D?”

“Yes.”

“The vitamin D.”

“YES, Chris. The vitamin D.”

Then you slowly held up your phone. The full message appeared: I need some vitamin D please. Can you grab me some on your way home? The doctor said my levels are low and I forgot to stop by the pharmacy.

Chris stared at the second half, the half that he had completely ignored.

“Oh.”

You crossed your arms. “You only read the first sentence, didn’t you?”

He slowly dropped the flowers to the sofa next to you. “Maybe.”

You exhaled loudly and took a closer look at the flowers. “And the flowers probably cost more than the vitamins cost.”

Now he was all pouty when he sat next to you, hitting your shoulder with his gently. “Ugghh, can you stop, that’s embarrassing enough!”

Lee Know

Minho had spent hours preparing that picnic. Now you were sitting on a blanket in the park by a lake, the two of you being the only ones there. Surrounded by sandwiches, strawberries, cold drinks and even a tiny speaker playing soft music, you looked up at him and left a gentle kiss on his bicep. “You did great”, you whispered against his skin. “Best picnic ever.”

He nodded proudly and nuzzled his head against yours. “Yeah, life could be worse.”

“Mhm”, you replied and leaned back a bit, stretching your legs.

“You know what I really need?”, you said and closed your eyes, letting the sun shine on your face.

“What?”

“More Vitamin D.”

Minho cocked his eyebrow at you and immediately scooted closer, which you noticed. “What are you doing?”

He gave you what he thought was a very charming look. “I help you.”

You stared at him. “Help with what?”

“The vitamin D situation.”

You slowly turned your head upward. The sun was shining directly overhead. Then you pointed. “That.”

His gaze followed your finger. “The sun?”

“Yes.”

“That’s the vitamin D you’re talking about?”

You laughed quietly. “What vitamin D are YOU talking about?”

He immediately took a sandwich into his hand – being now incredibly interesting to look at. “No comment.”

“Minho.”

He took a dramatic bite of the sandwich. “Still no comment.”

You laughed harder. “Were you seriously thinking I meant-“

“No comment.”

“You absolutely were.”

He groaned and covered part of his face with one hand. “In my defense, you could’ve been more specific.”

“More specific? It’s not my fault that you think with your dick sometimes.”

“I am not! Gosh your wording is- you know what, never mind”, he pouted. A beat passed.

“So … just to confirm.”

You sighed.

“You want vitamin D from the sun. Not from me.”

“Minho.”

“Just making sure.”

You grabbed a strawberry and threw it at his forehead.

“Ow!”

“You deserved that.”

He robbed his forehead dramatically. “I can’t believe that’s how you thank me for organizing this picnic.”

Despite his complaints, he slipped an arm around your shoulders again and pulled you closer.

“Minho?”

“Hm?”

“How about you give me your vitamin D later?”

Changbin

You came home from your annual checkup, when you saw Changbin sitting on the couch, laptop on his lap, probably working on some songs. When he heard the door closing, he turned around his gaze landing on you.

“Hey”, he said softly and placed the notebook on the table in front of him. “How did it go?”

You let yourself fall next to him, resting your feet on the table next to the notebook. “Wasn’t too bad. Doc said I am too low on Vitamin D tho.”

That made him straighten his posture as he leaned his elbow on the back of the couch and he shot you a smug grin. “Oh?”

You immediately recognized that grin and swatted his shoulder lightly. “No.”

“What?”

“I know that look.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

He then stood up, reaching his hand out for you to grab.

“Well, as your loving boyfriend-“

“No.”

“-I am prepared to assist-“

“Binnie, stop.”

“-with all vitamin D related matters.”

Then you threw the folder that got from your doctor at him, which he caught. Then he actually looked at the paperwork, the gears in his brain working.

“Oh.”

The folder clearly contained blood test results with a doctor’s note literally saying: Vitamin D deficiency. Recommend supplementation.

Changbin rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, that’s embarrassing.”

You took the folder out of his hand again, placing it on the table.

“You know I could forget about this little incident … when you agree to fetch me my vitamin D. As in my vitamin D pills that my doctor prescribed. As in the pills that I take to boost my vitamin D levels. As in the vitamin D that is important for my bone health, muscles functions and-“

He quickly shut you up by placing his palm over your lips. “Ok baby, I got it. I will go to the pharmacy, but please let’s forget about this, ok?”

Hyunjin

You and Hyunjin were laying in bed on a rainy Sunday morning. Outside, the sky was gray, miserable and it was wet. You glanced at your phone and sighed. “I desperately need vitamin D.”

Hyunjin immediately put down his book. “What did you say?” You looked over and repeated. “I am in desperate need of some vitamin D.” His eyebrows shot up, he lowered his book. “Vitamin D?”

“Yeah.”

A slow smirk appeared on his face. “I can help with that.”

You narrowed your eyes. “You can help me with some vitamin D?”

He now wiggled his eyebrows in a way that should have been illegal. “You bet your ass I can.” And then you knew immediately what he was thinking about.

“Hyunjin.”

“Yes?”

You held up your phone. “I’m literally looking at the weather forecast.”

Hyunjin squinted at the screen. It read: Cloudy, rain, cloudy, more rain.

“Oh.”

Yeah.”

“So we’re talking about sunlight.”

“Yes.”

“Not me.”

“Exactly.”

For a moment neither of you said anything. Then Hyunjin slowly placed his book on his chest. “Well, that’s embarrassing.”

“Kinda.”

“You know the way you said it, kinda sounded like you meant me. When you say vitamin D people think of that.”

“No, they don’t?”

“They do.”

“No!”, you exclaimed. “Vitamin D is famously produced through sunlight, people know that.” You laughed and shook your head. “Your confidence is honestly impressive. You heard one sentence and immediately decided you were the solution.”

Hyunjin nodded thoughtfully. “You make me seem a bit arrogant.”

“A bit?”

He scoffed and dramatically flopped back onto his pillow. “It’s so rough. Competing with the sun. Giant, glowing, millions of years told, provides warmth, life and vitamin D. I don’t stand a chance.”

You pressed your lips against his shoulder, rubbing his chest gently. “Are you jealous of the sun?”

He looked at you, like he was genuinely hurt. “How can I not?”

You playfully pinched his cheek, leaving a kiss there. “Oh, lucky for you, you offer way more than vitamin D.”

Han

The first warm day after weeks of rain felt like a miracle. The sky was bright blue, the air was warm and not a single cloud dared to ruin that afternoon, which explained why you were currently stretched out on a blanket in the park – face tilted toward the sun and eyes closed.

“Gosh, this feels amazing”, you sighed.

Beside you Han looked up from his phone.

“I’ve missed the sun so much.”

“Mhm.”

You stretched your arms above your head. “I think this is exactly what I needed.”

Han nodded absentmindedly. “Yeah, good.”

Another few minutes passed. The warmth soaked into your skin and for the first time all week you felt properly awake. You smiled.

“Finally getting my vitamin D.”

That got his attention. He lowered his phone. “Your what?”

“My vitamin D.”

You smiled happily and closed your eyes again. “I can practically feel myself becoming healthier.”

A beat passed and then you heard him dramatically gasping. “I can’t believe I’ve been replaced by the sun.”

Your eyes flew open. “What?”

He was staring at the sky with an expression usually reserved for personal betrayal. “I never thought it would happen like this.”

You immediately started laughing. “Han.”

“No, really. Look at you.”

He pointed at you accusingly. “You’re smiling.”

“Cause it’s sunny.”

“You literally said this is exactly what you needed.”

You looked at him for a second and then covered your face. “Oh my god.”

He sat up straighter. “What chance do I have?”

You rolled onto your side to look at him. “You know the sun isn’t actually competing with you, right?”

“That’s exactly what the sun wants me to think.”

“Are you seriously accusing the sun of pulling some mafia shit on you?”

“It’s trying to take me away from you. It’s trying to replace me.” He pouted. “And I am jealous of everything that makes you this happy. It should be me.”

The statement was so unexpectedly sweet that you almost believed him.

“I mean, when’s the last time you looked at me and said ‘Finally my vitamin D is here’?”

Of course he had to ruin it. He threw a handful of grass at him and he laughed, catching your wrist before you could grab more. “I thought I was your favorite”, he said.

“You are.”

“Second.”

“What?”

“After the sun.”

You buried your face in his shoulder, laughing so hard your stomach hurt. “You’ll neve let go, will you?”

Felix

It was winter. Dark when you woke up. Dark when you left work. Dark when you came home. Dark all the time. Your whole life was dark.

You were bundles beneath three blankets on the couch while Felix scrolled through his phone beside you. After scrolling through social media for ten minutes, you sighed dramatically. “I seriously need vitamin D.”

Felix’ finger stopped scrolling. “Oh?”

You didn’t notice. “Yeah.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “How badly?”

You frowned at your phone. “Pretty badly.”

He set his phone down, turning his body toward you, scooting closer. “Ohhhhhhh”, he exclaimed and nuzzled into your side, pressing his lips gently against your neck. Your breath hitched when he touched your skin. His hands wandered over your thigh, squeezing it firmly. “Felix, what are you doing?”, you asked and he detached himself from your neck.

Your eyes met and you looked at him with raised eyebrows. His eyes were wide open, trying to make sense of the situation. “I thought- you said you needed some- what were you talking about?”

A few seconds passed as the gears in your head were moving.

“Oh my god”, you started and his hand that was still resting on your thigh flinched a bit. “You think I meant something else.”

His ears turned red as his stumbled over his words. “No, no, no I think exactly the same what you think. But … just to make sure what did you mean?”

Oh boy, he was definitely thinking about something different.

“Felix, I meant vitamin D. The vitamin D that’s beneficial for my mood.”

You grabbed a cushion and threw it at him. “You were thinking about YOUR vitamin D, weren’t you?!”

He shook his head in panic, lifting his hands in defense.

“Noooooo, I knew exactly what you meant. Vitamin D for your mood. Yes, very important.”

You groaned. “Look outside. It’s winter. It’s cold. It’s raining. The sun hasn’t shown itself in days. I am so freaking down.”

“Hey, I am sorry ok?”, he chuckled and kissed your forehead. “I’ll go and grab some pills now ok? Please love me again.”

Seungmin

It was Saturday – a crowded grocery store. Seungmin and you had been wandering through endless aisles for almost an hour looking for ingredients for tonight’s dinner.

By this point, you were tired and hungry. And slightly annoyed.

You pushed the shopping cart forward and groaned. “Can we hurry?”

Seungmin turned to you, after he had been inspecting a package of crackers. “Why?”

“I need vitamin D.”

He blinked at you a couple of times. “Vitamin D?”

“Yeah.”

He looked around. “Wait, now? Here.”

You shook your head. “No, not here. At the pharmacy next door.”

He threw the crackers into the shopping cart. “At the pharmacy? That’s … brave. Don’t you think the toilet’s here are a bit bigger? We’d have more space.”

Now you were the one blinking at him. “Seungmin, what the hell? Why are we talking about toilets now?”

“Well, we can’t really do it here in the aisle, can we?”

You tilted your head, your hand now gripping the handle of the cart. “Seungmin, what the hell are you talking about? WHAT can’t we do in the aisle?”

Now he was the one staring at you dumbfounded. “Wait”, he breathed out. “What are YOU talking about?”

A few seconds passed in which you just stared at each other. Then you lightly shoved the shopping cart against him, causing him to stumble a bit. “Oh my god, you were thinking I meant YOUR vitamin D?!”

You gasped and hit him again with the cart. Before you could hit him for a third time, he stopped you. “First of all, can you please stop trying to kill me with a freaking shopping cart?”, he took a deep breath. “Second of all, what do you expect me to think when you say ‘Oh I need some vitamin D’ out of the blue?” He threw his hands in the air, shaking his head in disapproval.

“Oh, shut up, I am too tired for this. Let’s just pay and go to the pharmacy to get me that damn vitamin D PILLS”, you emphasized the last word, making sure that he understood what you’re talking about.

“Ok, I get it”, he said, now pushing the cart himself.

“P.I.L.L.S”, you spelled again and he just rolled his eyes, trying to get out of here.

I.N.

It was nearly midnight when you stumbled into the living room, coming home from a long night out.

Jeongin was sprawled across the couch, half watching a movie and half scrolling through his phone. He looked up immediately, when he noticed you had come home.

When he saw that exhausting look on your face, he immediately dropped his phone, sitting straight up. “You okay?”

You dropped dramatically onto the opposite end of the couch. “No.”

“What’s wrong?”

You groaned. “I’m exhausted.”

“Long day?”

“The longest.”

He nodded sympathetically.

Then you sighed and buried your face in a cushion. “I think I need more vitamin D.”

The room became suspiciously quiet. Too quiet. You slowly lifted your head. Your boyfriend had lowered his phone. A smile was forming, a very unfortunate one.

“No.”

“What?”

“No.”

“I haven’t even said anything.”

“You didn’t have to. I see it in your eyes.”

The smile widened and you pointed at him accusingly. “Jeongin, no.”

“What do you mean? I am just sitting here.”

“You are sitting here, having the dirtiest thoughts, I can see it.”

He tried – and failed – to look innocent. “So”, he said carefully. “You need vitamin D.”

“Yes.”

“And you’ve come to me with this information.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not my fault that you’re not thinking with your brain but your dick.”

You grabbed the nearest cushion and threw it at him. He caught it while laughing.

“Why do you even tell me this at midnight?”, he laughed, hugging the pillow to his chest now.

You blinked. “Because I’m tired.”

“And?”

“And I’ve barely seen daylight all week.”

Now he was blinking at you. “Daylight?”

“Yeah, daylight. You know when it’s day and the sun is shining.”

He now rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh my god, you were talking about actual vitamin D.”

You swatted his shoulder. “Wait, I thought you knew?! I just played along now! Don’t tell me you really thought I was talking about that kind of vitamin D?”

He started stretching and fake yawning. “Oh wow, it’s really late now, I should go to bed.”

Before he could stand up, you threw another pillow at him. “Oh Jeongin, I can’t with you!”

[chantasticverse]

Bang Chan: Summer by the Coast

Summary: On a warm summer night, you and Chris escape to a quiet pier, enjoying the peaceful sound of the ocean beneath the moonlit sky. Between playful teasing, affectionate cuddles, and heartfelt conversations about life, fate, and finding comfort in each other, the evening becomes one you'll never forget.

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

Word count: 2k Warnings: None

The stars danced across the sky, illuminating the darkness hovering over your heads. The reflection of the moon on the water was distorted by the soft waves crashing against the pier, followed by the sound of a soft splash echoing through the night.  

Summer nights like these were your absolute favorite.

Being able to go out at midnight and still feeling the warmth of summer.

Spending the nights by the ocean and inhaling the salty scent of the sea.

Feeling the light breeze of the wind against your skin and in your hair.

Especially with the company that was sitting beside you. Both your feet were dangling over the edge of the footbridge of the pier as you stared into the distance that seemed to lead to nowhere.

The Ferris wheel and the little shops behind you closed a long time ago. Just one hour ago the area was lively, loud and vibrant – full of people having fun, eating cotton candy and taking pictures of special moments, they never wanted to forget.

Now the place was empty. No music. No vibrant lights. No laughter.

Just you and Chris.

The tips of your fingers that laid on the floor slightly touched his. His warmth that was radiating from his body made you feel even safer. You always felt safe when you were with him.

Being with him felt like coming home from a stressful day.

It felt like feeling the first ray of sunshine on your skin after rainy days.

It felt like the first sip of water that you take after waking up in the middle of the night.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice broke the silence the had lingered for a few minutes and you took a deep breath, your fingers now gliding through his. His finger engulfed yours in a firm yet gentle way.

“Nothing, I just feel … content”, you finally said.

He turned his head to you, his eyes scanning your face, that was barely visible in the darkness. The only thing that illuminated it was the moon, drowning your skin in a silvery glow that made you seem almost unreal in his eyes.

He hummed and kept adoring you without you even noticing. Your eyes stayed glued to the sparkling surface of the water in front of you.

It was only then when he placed his chin on your shoulder, that you finally gave him some attention. You turned your head now to him, meeting his soft eyes, looking up at you. He looked like a puppy, that just got kicked. He was even pouting.

You softly pinched his cheek. “What are you pouting for?”

A gentle breeze swept through his hair, pushing a few loose strands away from his forehead.

“You’re ignoring me”, he mumbled and pressed a kiss on your bare shoulder and sending goosebumps racing across your skin. Your hand found the nape of his neck, slowly caressing it. “What makes you think that, baby?”, you asked and nuzzled your forehead against his.

Now he wrapped both of his arms around your waist, keeping you close to him. “You keep staring at the sea instead of me.”

“Because it’s pretty.”

“Prettier than me?”

You let out a quiet laugh, gently tickling his sides for a second. “Nothing is prettier than you.”

He hummed in satisfaction, his lips now forming to an infamous gnab-smile. “That’s what I thought”, he murmured and continued covering your shoulder in several tiny kisses, causing you to have a giggle fit and you tried to push his head gently away, but he was very keen on what he was doing.

“Chris, you know I am ticklish”, you pressed out and fell backwards, pulling him with you. He started laughing as well. Now the both of you were laying on your backs, laughing from the bottom of your hearts. The sound of your laughter drifted across the water, only to be swallowed by the endless horizon of the ocean.

The sound of your giggles slowly faded away after a couple of seconds as it got hard to breathe. “Ugh, my sides feel like they are on fire. Since when did laughing become so exhausting?”, you moaned, cupping your ribs. He reached over and rubbed your side gently. “Worth it, though. I love hearing you laugh like that.”

You turned your head toward him, his eyes were already on you. Bathed in pale moonlight, his features seemed softer somehow – the sharp line of his jaw mellowed by the silver glow, his eyes reflecting the shimmering light.

You lifted your finger, that now ghosted over his lips. You could feel his faint breath bouncing off your skin. “I wish moments like this could last forever”, you admitted quietly, your eyes now focused on his lips. “It’s calm. No one needs us, just us being us”, you continued and started drumming your fingers against his lips.

He let you do that without any complains. He was just to mesmerized by every tiny action you did. You even could’ve smashed a rock against his head and he would’ve found a way to find that adorable.

“Yeah, this is really nice”, he agreed absentmindedly and grabbed your fingers in his, moving them to his lips and pressing them against your fingertips. A familiar tenderness washed over you. It wasn’t the gesture itself that made your chest ache pleasantly – it was the way he did it so naturally.

“We should do this more often. You know taking a little getaway”, you breathed out, scooting closer to him. “I love seeing you like that. Calm, with enough sleep and not on edge”, you explained quietly and his eyes that were focused on your fingers, now found yours.  The teasing glint that had lingered in them moments before was gone, replaced by something warmer. He looked at you with quiet fondness, as if he personally could feel the sincerity behind every word.

“Come here”, he whispered and guided your head to his chest now. This was way more comfortable than the hard surface of the bridge beneath you. You pressed yourself against him, feeling his heartbeat against the shell of your ear. He wrapped his arms completely around you, one hand laying on your waist while the other one slowly caressed the back of your head.

The steady rhythm of his heartbeat mixed with the distant sound of the waves, creating a quiet melody that seemed to drown out the rest of the world. You let out a content sigh and curled a little closer against him, your fingers absentmindedly gathering a fold of his shirt. Above you, the moon hung low over the water, its reflection still stretching across the dark sea like a silver path.

Neither of you spoke for a while. There was no need to. His hand continued its slow journey through your hair and every gentle stroke seemed to pull another ounce of tension from your body. “Yes”, you said. “I really could stay like this forever”, your murmured, your voice barely louder than the waves beneath the pier.

A quiet chuckle rumbled in his chest beneath your cheek. “Yeah?”, he asked softly. You nodded against him. “Yeah, just you, me, the ocean – no alarms, no deadlines, no one expecting anything from us.”

His arm tightened around your waist for a moment. “Sounds like the perfect plan to me as well.”

You looked up at the moon again. “Do you know what’s weird?” He hummed, continuing threading his fingers through your hair. “Looking at the moon. We are here now, laying by the ocean. Another person who looks at the exact same moon might experience the worst day of their life. This is such a weird thought.”

He stayed quiet for a moment. “Yeah”, he said eventually. “Someone could be celebrating the happiest day of their life now. Someone else could be saying goodbye to a person they’ll never see again.”

Your eyes remained fixed on the moon above.

“And the moon just keeps hanging there.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “I guess that’s what makes moments like this special.” His hand settled against your cheek. “Out of all the things that could be happening tonight, this is where we ended up.”

You tilted your head slightly to look at him. “You make it sound like fate.”

He shrugged. “Maybe it is. Or it’s just a series of really lucky decisions. Like me deciding to talk to you and not scaring you away. You agreeing to go on a date with me. Stuff like that.”

You laughed softly and he brushed his thumb across your cheek. “But the point is that out of eight billion people on this planet, somehow I got to be here with you tonight.”

The teasing tone had disappeared from his voice, it was more quiet, more sincere. “The weird part isn’t that we’re all looking at the same moon. The weird part is how many things had to happen for us to be looking at it together.”

Those words made your heart stop for a second and you let is sink it in. “Wow, that was really beautiful”, you exclaimed and lifted your head to look properly down at him. Some strands of hair fell into your face and he was quick to brush them away.

“What?”, he chuckled, when you noticed you staring at him. You tilted your head, your fingers playing with the collar of his shirt. You smiled down at him. “Nothing, let me just look at you”, you said. Even in the darkness you could see how his ears turned red. He had always been very bad at taking compliments.

“Nooooo”, he whined and turned his head away, hiding it with his hands. “You’re making me blush”, he breathed out. You decided to tease him further, just because you could. “My boyfriend is not only hot, but he could compete with Socrates, what a lucky lady am I?”

“Ok that’s it”, he suddenly got up, grabbed and lifted you and threw you over his shoulder, so you were basically dangling over it. Your hands frantically hit his back in a gentle way as he walked toward the water.

“Chris”, you laughed out. “What are you doing, where are you taking me?”

He softly patted your bum, as he came closer to the end of the bridge. “What does it look like? I am about to throw you into the water.”

You straightened your back, now going still.

“No.”

“Oh yes.”

“Chris, let me down.”

“Don’t feel like it.”

Then he stopped. You knew he was not at the edge.

A couple of seconds passed in silence. He didn’t do anything. You even held your breath. The suspension was unbearable.

“…are you gonna do something now?”, you broke the silence.

“Yeah, I am just thinking about how I should cover this as an accident.”

“COVER AS AN ACCIDENT?”, you squealed and started trashing around.

And then in one swift moment, he lifted you off his shoulder and for a second you were just levitating in the air, nearly hovering over the water. You were now eye to eye with the dark stretch of water about to get soaked in salt water.

“If you drop me I am bringing you down with me”, you threatened, your eyes now finding his. He looked at you with that shit eating grin, the one where his dimples popped out. “You wouldn’t dare”, he teased and you cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, you think so?”

Without wasting a second thought you let yourself fall backwards, pulling him with you. The two of you broke through the surface of the cold water as you submerged beneath it. For a heartbeat, the world disappeared.

The noise from the shore vanished, replaced by the muffled rush of water. Tiny bubbles spiraled around you as you sank, your hand grabbing his wrist.

The cold finally caught up with you, biting at your skin and stealing the breath from your lungs. Kicking upward, you broke the surface first, gasping as air rushed back into your lungs. A second later he emerged beside you, pushing wet hair from his hair.

“Oh my god, you actually did dare”, he sputtered.

You only shrugged and failed to suppress a smile. Luckily the water here is very shallow and not to deep, so you were able to stand here.

He shot you a devastatingly beautiful smile before wrapping his arms around you, pulling you flush against him. “God, I love you so much, do you know that?”

[chantasticverse]

Summer by the Coast

The ocean has a way of making everything feel a little lighter.

Long walks on wooden piers.

Deep talk by the bonfire.

Beach festivals beneath glowing skies.

This July, we're leaving the city behind.

SUMMER BY THE COAST

Starting Monday, July 6th.

[chantasticverse]

Stray Kids: Them as boyfriends

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

Word count: 3,8k Warnings: none

Bang Chan

Chris is the type of boyfriend who makes you feel safe without even trying. He’d be the type who feels like stability in human form. The kind of person whose presence alone lowers your stress levels because you know he’ll help carry whatever is weighing on you. He naturally takes care of the people he loves and in a relationship that would show up in hundreds of little ways. Making sure you’ve eaten, reminding you to get some sleep, asking how that thing you were worried about last week turned out because, he actually remembered.

He's incredible attentive, but not in a way that feels invasive. More in the sense that he genuinely pays attention when you talk. Mention your favorite snack once and suddenly it’s appearing whenever you have a bad day. Casually tell him you have an important meeting on Thursday and he’ll text you that morning to wish you luck. The details matter to him.

He’s also the type who would notice when something is wrong long before you say it out loud. You could spend an entire day insisting you’re fine and he’d just look at you for a second and go “Are you sure?”, because he can hear the difference in your voice. And even if you keep brushing it off, he’d stay close. Not pushing, not forcing you to talk, just making sure you know he’s there when you’re ready.

One thing about Chris is that he seems like someone who carries responsibility naturally. He’s used to taking care of everyone around him, so as a boyfriend he’d probably slip into helping without even thinking about it. If you’re struggling with something, his first instinct is going to be “Okay, how do we fix this?” Even when you insist you can handle it yourself, he’d smile and say “I know you can, but let me help you.”

And despite how dependable he is, he’d have a soft side in private. Late night phone calls that somehow stretch for hours because neither of you wants to hang up. Falling asleep on FaceTime because the conversation drifted into comfortable silence.

He’s also the type who would communicate consistently. He genuinely wants you to now you’re important to him. Even on his busiest days, he’d find a moment to send a text, ash how you’re doing, or tell you to get home safely.

And then there’s the gentleman side of him. Opening doors without thinking, walking closer to the street, carrying things for you, remembering the things you like, doing all these small acts of care automatically and then getting embarrassed if you point them out. And he’d always give you back hugs, no matter what.

He feels like someone who never lets you face things alone. He’d be your biggest supporter, your safe place and the  first person you call when something good or bad happens.

Lee Know

Lee Know would come off blunt and teasing, but he’s the kind of person who notices everything. He mood shift in your voice when you’re tired. The way you get quieter when something is bothering you. The fact that you’ve been picking at your food all week because you’re stressed. He’d catch those things immediately, even if he pretends not to.

He wouldn’t respond in an overly emotional or dramatic way. Instead of sitting you down for a long heart-to-heart the moment something seems wrong he’d help in practical ways. If you’ve had a bad day, he might show up with your favorite food. If you’re exhausted, he’d tell you to sit down and rest while he takes care of whatever needs doing. If you’re upset, he’d stay nearby without forcing you to talk before ready.

He's the type of boyfriend whose affection shows up in consistency rather than grand declarations. You wouldn’t get constant speeches about how much he loves you, but you’d notice that he always remembers the things that matter. He knows exactly how you take your coffee. He automatically saves our favorite snack for you. He notices when you’re cold before you mention it. Over time those small actions would start to feel more meaningful than words because they’re so reliable.

His teasing would also be a huge part of the relationship. If you’re expecting sweet compliments all day, he’s probably not your guy. He’d absolutely make fan of you for something ridiculous. The catch is that he’d do all of this while quietly taking care of you at the same time. Half the time his affection would be hidden underneath sarcasm.

When it comes to difficult moments, he’d be dependable. If you’re struggling with a problem he wouldn’t just comfort you. He’d want to help fit it. He seems like someone who shows love by making your life easier. Not because he thinks you can’t handle things yourself, but because he genuinely wants to share the burden.

And if someone disrespect you? That’s probably where people would see a completely different side of him. The playful teasing would disappear instantly. He doesn’t strike as some who starts unnecessary conflict, but he does seem like the type who would become very serious, very quickly, if someone hurt a person he cares about. You’d never have to wonder whether he’d have your back, because there would be no hesitation.

With Lee Know it would be like waking up one day and realizing this person has quietly become part of every corner of your life. He’s there when you’re happy, when you’re stressed, when you’re stick, when you’re struggling. Not loud about it, not flashy, just constant.

Changbin

Changbin is the type who makes you feel like the most important person in the room. He doesn’t seem like someone who loves quietly. When he cares about someone, it shows. You’d never have to sit there wondering whether he like you, whether he is proud of of you or whether he enjoys being around you. The answer would be obvious.

He’s the kind of person who hypes you up. Show him a project you’re working on and suddenly he’s acting like you’ve created a masterpiece. Tell him about something good that happened and he’s more excited than you are. You wins are his wins. Your happiness makes him happy.

One of the things that stands out about Changbin is how sincere he seems. He doesn’t strike as someone who plays games with his feelings. If he likes you you’ll know. If he misses you, he’ll tell you. If he is proud of you, you’ll hear about it. There’s something very refreshing about someone who doesn’t make affection into a guessing game.

He’s also the type who would be incredibly loyal. Once you’re one of his people, you’re his person. He’d stand by you through difficult days, celebrate the good ones and make sure you never feel like you’re handling things alone.

And while people often focus on his confidence and energy, I think he’d actually be very attentive to emotional needs. He seems like someone who would notice when you’re being hard on yourself and immediately challenge it.

You be like: “I don’t think I did well” and he be like: “Who says that?” and you be like: “Me.” And he be like: “Well you’re wrong” and then he’d give you a five minute speech about all the reasons you’re capable.

Communication would probably be one of his strongest qualities. If something is bothering him, he’d rather talk about it than let it sit and grow. He doesn’t enjoy emotional distance or cold sllence. He’d want to know what’s wrong and work through it together.

At the same time, he’d bring so much fun into the relationship. There’s be endless joking around, playful arguments, random bursts of energy and moments where he makes oyu laugh when you’re trying very hard not do. He’d also playfully manhandle you – wrapping his arm around your neck, pretending he is about to take you out, but he’d be gentle about it.

He is also someone who would be physically affectionate without being shy about it. Casual touches, hugs, pulling you closer when you’re sitting together - small reminders throughout the day that he is proud to be with you.

The best way to describe how it would be to date Changbin is that it would feel encouraging. Like having a boyfriend who’s also biggest cheerleader. Someone who celebrates your successes, believes in you when you don’t believe in yourself and never misses an opportunity to remind you how much you matter to him.

Hyunjin

Hyunjin would be the type of boyfriend who makes ordinary things feel special. He’s very emotionally expressive and seems like someone who values connection deeply. The relationship wouldn’t just be something he has – it would become something he actively nurtures and treasures. He’d pay attention to feelings, atmosphere, little moments and all the tings most people overlook. The way your face lights up when you’re excited about something, the songs you play when you’re happy vs. when you’re stressed. The tiny habits you don’t even realize you have.

He's the kind of person who would notice subtle changes in you almost immediately. Not because he’s constantly analyzing you, but because he genuinely pays attention. If you’re quieter than usual, he’d notice. If you’ve had a difficult day and you’re trying to hide it, he’d probably pick up on it from the way you’re speaking or carrying yourself. And instead of pushing you to explain, he’d approach it gently.

One of the biggest things about Hyunjin is that he feels like someone who romanticizes life. Not in an unrealistic way, but in a way that makes everyday experiences feel meaningful. A walk to café becomes a memory, sitting together while it rains becomes something he’ll remember weeks later. Looking though old photos together somehow turns into a two hour conversation about life.

Being with him would probably feel like existing in a small world the two of you created together.

He’d also remember tiny details about you that you’d completely forget mentioning. Your favorite flower, the movie you loved as a child, the fact that you always reach for a specific snack when you’re stressed.

His affection would likely come through creativity as much as words. He seems like the type who would express love through things he creates. Maybe it’s a sketch of you when you’re not paying attention Maybe it’s a playlist that somehow captures exactly how he feels about you. Maybe it’s a photo he took because the lighting reminded him of you.

He’d be very intentional with affection. Not necessarily the type to throw around feelings carelessly, but when he expresses them, he’d mean them. Compliments wouldn’t feel generic, they’d feel specific. Loves hand holding and kissing your hand.

Because he feels things deeply, he’d be sensitive too. If something was wrong between you, he’d want to understand it rather than ignore it. He’d want honesty, vulnerability and reassurance that you’re both on the same page.

He’d also be incredibly supportive. If something matters to you, he’d want to hear about your interests, your dreams, your worries and all the little details of your day.

Dating him would feel cinematic in the smallest ways. A relationship full of meaningful glances, late night conversations and countless moments where you realize he sees things about you that everyone else misses.

Han

Hand would be the type who feels like your best friend and your boyfriend at the same time. Being with him would feel incredibly natural. There wouldn’t be much pressure to be perfect around him because he seems like the kind of person who would embrace all your weirdness. The relationship would probably be filled with inside jokes, random conversations that make absolutely no sense to anyone else and moments where you’re both laughing so hard you can’t finish a sentence.

Han has this balance between humor and emotional depth. One minute he’s making ridiculous jokes just to get a reaction out of you and the next he’s saying something so thoughtful and perceptive that you’re left staring at him wondering where that came from. He seems like someone who uses humor to make people comfortable, but underneath that, he’s actually very observant.

When he notices that you’re upset, he’d rather find ways to make you smile before asking what was wrong. Maybe he’d do something silly or make a job so terrible that you can’t help but laugh. Or he would start rambling about something completely random just to pull you out of your head. And then once you’re feeling better, he’d quietly ask if you want to talk about it.

Late night conversations would probably become one of the biggest parts of the relationship. They would go sooo deep, such as talking about your biggest fears, childhood memories, future dreams and everything in between. Hours would pass without wither of you realizing it.

He would be someone who seems like he’d want to know everything about you. Not just the important things, but the weird little details too.

You’d feel so accepted around him. He doesn’t strike as someone who expects people to hide parts of themselves. If anything he’d probably encourage you to be more yourself. Even the messy parts, the awkward parts, the parts you usually hide from other people

You could be having the worst day possible and he’d somehow manage to make you laugh without making you feel like your feelings are dismissed – which is a difficult balance to achieve.

And despite all the joking, he’d be reassuring when it matters. If you’re doubting yourself, he’d remind you of your strengths. If you’re anxious he’d sit with you through it. The thing about him is that the relationship would never feel boring. There would always be conversation, laughter, spontaneous ideas, random bursts of affection and moments where he completely catches you off guard.

Sometimes when he feels like he doesn’t get enough attention from you, he’d get playfully sulky, trying to get your attention like that.

He’d be someone who brings lightness when things feel heavy and is willing to sit beside you when life gets difficult.

Felix

Felix would be emotionally gentle and consistently kind. He’d make you feel safe just by being near him. There’s a softness in how he treats people that would make the relationship feel very comforting and steady. He’d show love openly and physically in a natural way – hugs, leaning on you, small touches that feel grounding rather than intense. He’d also be very encouraging, always trying to lift your mood without pressure.

He would feel like the kind of person who feels like coming home after a long day. There’s just something naturally comforting about him. He seems like someone who loves very openly, like he wouldn’t make affection feel complicated and something you have to earn. If he cares about you, you’d know it. Through hugs, small touches, resting his head on your shoulder while you’re watching a movie, reaching for your hand without thinking or pulling you into a hug the second he noticed you’ve had a rough day.

His affection wouldn’t feel overwhelming, more like grounding. He’d create an environment where you feel comfortable enough to let your guard down. And he’d be such a great listener. If you feel like yapping, he would be the first person to offer his hears, because he just loves listening to you. And if you had a difficult day, he’d want to make it better – giving you the nicest hug, trying to distract you, organizing some snacks.

And he’d be someone who encourages you, especially when you don’t believe in yourself. If you don’t do it, he is going to be the one, taking care of it. Encouraging you, telling you that you can do it, that you’re smart and absolutely capable of whatever you’re doubting about

He’d be so patient as well. If you need to vent, he’d be there to listen. If you need reassurance for the tenth time about the same thing, he’d probably giving it without making you feel guilty for asking.

I can also picture him being the type who loves creating little moments of comfort. Baking something for you or even asking you if you want to bake with him in case you need to distract yourself from something bad. Wrapping a blanket around your shoulders without saying anything, making sure you’re included in conversations when you’re feeling shy, because he himself is such a social butterfly.  

While he seems incredibly sweet, I think he also has a very protective side on him when it comes to people that he loves He’d show it through unwavering support not necessarily through anger. The type who immediately moves to your side and makes sure you’re okay before anything else.

Being with him would feel like having someone who brings warmth into your life simply by existing in it. You’d look into his face and everything would feel lighter and easier, even on the bad days.

Seungmin

Seungmin would be practical and slightly teasing, but very emotionally reliable in his own way. He wouldn’t overdramatize things and he’d probably calm you down with logic mixed with dry humor. He’s not flashy with affection, but he shows up consistently. If he cares about you, you’ll notice it in how steady he is, not in big romantic gestures.

He’d be the type to tease you the second you start getting sentimental, but underneath all of that is someone incredibly reliable.

His love would show up in consistency rather than grand gestures. He wouldn’t plan surprises every week or do something big. But I could imagine him writing you little love letters as I think there is a little romantic in him.

He’d be someone to call you when he said he would, he would show up when you needed him. Very reliable.

One thing that stands out about him is that he seems very level-headed. When you’re spiraling about something, he probably wouldn’t spiral with you. He’d listen, let you get everything out and then calmly help you sort through it. He would be the rock on your side. Like if you started spiraling somewhere outside, he’d quickly find a place where he’d bring you to help you calm down without any other external factors that could prevent you from calming down.

He'd be someone to bring you back to reality and let you know that everything is ok. You be like “Everything is wrong.” And he be like “Ok name me three things. Three actual things.” And then you’d take a step back, thinking about it and realize that everything is actually okay.

He would balance logic with care as well. He wouldn’t dismiss your feelings, but he also wouldn’t encourage you to stay stuck in them. If you’re anxious, he’d help you ground you. If you’re overwhelmed, he’d help you break things into manageable pieces. If you’re upset, he’d listen – but he’d also want to help you move forward. In general I think he sis someone who gives really good advice.

His teasing would probably become one of the biggest parts of the relationship. Not meant in a mean way, but the kind that becomes its own love language. You’d be trying to tell him a story and he’d immediately find the one detail he can make fun of. And he wouldn’t let go of it.

But one thing for sure: His teasing would never make you doubt how he feels, he knows where the line is and he would never risk to actually hurt you. Once you’re genuinely upset, the jokes would stop and he would switch into that supporting boyfriend. That’s when you see his softer side: who notices when you are unusually quiet and remembers that stressful meeting that you mentioned and asks you how it went.

He wouldn’t be someone who constantly verbalizes his feelings, his actions would speak for him. He’d always saves you a seat, reach for your bag when it’s too heavy – small habits that develop over time.

During disagreements he’d be very mature. If there is a problem, he would like to talk through it, he would like to know what needs to be fixed and how this can be improved in the future.

Being with him would feel dependable, he’d be the first person to call, because you know you can rely on him.

I.N.

Jeongin would start off a bit reserved, but he’d become more expressive as he gets comfortable. At first he wouldn’t necessarily wear his heart on his sleeve right away. He’s take his time getting comfortable, letting trust build naturally before showing all sides of himself.

Once he lets someone in, I think he’d become much more expressive than people expect. His affection would grow steadily over time. The longer you’re together the more comfortable he comes and the more obvious his feelings are. What starts as occasional check ins slowly turns into daily conversations. What starts as subtle affection turns into reaching for your hand without thinking. You’d get to watch him slowly let his guard down and that would make every new side of him feel special.

He seems very sincere, not flashy – just genuine. If he likes you, It wouldn’t feel performative. He’d be the kind of person who would ask how your day was and genuinely want to hear the answer. The kind who remembers things because he was actually listening, not because he was trying to impress you.

He’d also have a playful side that comes out most around the people he’d comfortable with. The relationship would probably be full of teasing, little jokes and moments where he acts completely unbothered just to get a reaction out of you.

That would be the dynamic in your relationship.

Right when you’e getting used to the teasing, he’d suddenly do something incredibly sweet that catches you completely off guard. If you’re tired after a long day, he’d quietly brings you your favorite drink. He’d notice you’re overwhelmed and checks in.

If he’s with you, he’s choosing you. There would be a sense of sincerity and intention behind the relationship that makes it feel secure. And while he might not always the most emotionally dramatic person, he’d be dependable when it matters. His support would be quiet, but consistent.

And when he is looking at you, he’d flash you his biggest smile. The kind where his dimples are shown on full display, showcasing how much you mean to him and how happy you make him.

Around strangers he might seem composed, but around you he’d let himself relax. You’d see the side of him that’s affectionate, playful and a little clingier than he’d ever admit.

Being with him would feel natural. No pressure, no pretending, no forcing things to happen before they’re ready. Just two people growing closer day by day until one morning you realize he’s become part of your routine, of your life. His love wouldn’t feel rushed or overwhelmed – it would feel steady, genuine and completely real. He acts cool in public, but is the clingiest in private, as his touches are only reserved for you.

[chantasticverse]

I.N.: After Midnight - 04:31 am

Summary: At 4:31 am, you find Jeongin swimming alone on a rooftop, unable to sleep and struggling with emotional numbness. He confesses that he no longer feels like himself and fears he may never get that feeling back.

Word count: 3k Warnings: Emotional numbness and loss of identity, mild existential themes and self-reflection, discussion of burnout, emotional exhaustion and feeling disconnected from life, themes of loneliness and fear of losing oneself

At 4:31 am the rooftop was supposed to be empty. The city below looked unreal, all glass. The water reflected the sky’s dark blue haze, perfectly still except for the occasional ripple from the wind.

When ypu pushed open the heavy glass door and stepped onto the wet concrete, your pyjama shorts too short to keep your legs warm at this hour. The city stretched endlessly around you, silent except for distant traffic and the low hum of ventilation units.

Then you saw it. A figure moved through the dark water. Back and forth. Steady laps. For a second you thought you were imagining him. Then the swimmer turned his head for a breath.

Jeongin.

At first he didn’t notice you. He kept swimming beneath the pale rooftop lights, cutting through the water like he was trying to outrun something. You folded your arms against the cold.

“Why are you up there at 4 in the morning?”, you broke the silence and he stopped in his tracks. Water dripped from his hair as he looked toward you. “I just felt like going for a swim.” His voice sounded flat, not tired, just distant. The kind of distant you’d been hearing more and more lately.

You walked closer to the pool. “Can’t sleep again?”

He came closer to the edge and rested his arms on the pool ledge.

“No.”

You hummed and slowly sat down, your legs now dangling over the ledge of the pool. Your feet now touching the water that was surprisingly warmer than expected. His hands quickly found your knees, softly gripping them before resting his chin on them. The way his wet skin felt against your dry one caused goosebumps all over your body. He seemed to notice that and smirked proudly, before pressing a soft kiss on your skin.

Some water droplets found their way through his hair and landed on you, which then moved over your skin and eventually vanished on the floor. You hooked your finger under his chin, forcing him gently to look up on you. His eyes looked sad. They had been almost every day.

“Something on your mind?”, you tried softly again, like you did the last couple of days. You didn’t put your hopes up high – he always said he was okay, even tho he was clearly not. He wouldn’t tell you what’s going on in his mind.

Then suddenly: “I just …” He exhaled. “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

His honesty caught you off guard.

“I wake up and do everything I’m supposed to do. Work. Eat. Talk to people. Go out.” His eyes followed the ripples spreading across the water. “But if feels like someone else is doing it.” His tone tugged something at your chest. In a bad way.

“I keep waiting to care about things again”, he continued. “Or feel excited. Or angry. Or happy.” He laughed softly. “Anything.” The laugh disappeared almost as soon as it arrived. “I just feel numb.”

You looked down. You kind of expected this answer, but hearing it directly out of his mouth hurt more than expected. You gently pinched his chin and tilted your head. “You’ve been feeling like this for a while now, huh?” He broke the eye contact and nuzzled his cheek against your skin instead. Your fingers found his hair, that he had been growing out, softly massaging his scalp.

He grunted lowly and you could feel his hand squeezing your flesh as if he was trying to hold onto an anchor.

For a long moment neither of you spoke. Somewhere below, a siren echoed through the sleeping streets before fading into nothing. You continued running your fingers through his damp hair.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”, you asked quietly. Jeongin let out a slow breath against your knee. “I didn’t know how. It’s just, I don’t even know what’s wrong with me.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Every time I tried to explain it, it sounded stupid.”

“It’s not stupid.”

He shook his head. “It is.”

You felt him tense beneath your touch. “People always talk about beind sad or stressed or burned out. At least those things make sense.” He swallowed. “But this just feels … empty.” His words lingered between you. As if he had been carrying it around for weeks and had finally found somewhere to put it down.

“I keep looking at old photos and wondering where that person went”, he admitted. His fingers tightened slightly around your leg. “I know it’s me. But it doesn’t feel like me.”

Your chest ached. You hated hearing him talk about himself like he was a stranger.

The wind picked up, carrying the scent of chlorine across the rooftop.

“You know”, you said softly. “I don’t think that you’ve disappeared.”

He finally looked up. The sadness in his eyes nearly made your heart break. “You don’t?”

You shook your head. “No.”

A faint frown appeared on his face. “Then where am I?”

You smiled sadly and brushed a wet strand of hair away from his forehead. “I think you’re exhausted.”

He looked unconvinced.

“I think you’ve been carrying too much for too long. And I think you’ve gotten so used to surviving every day that you forgot you’re allowed to actually live it.”

You scooted a little more forward, getting closer to him.

“Your life has been planned for you by others for years. There was not much room for you to express your needs and wishes”, you added softly.

The rooftop fell silent again. Jeongin stared at you. His eyes slowly drifted away, following the movement of the water. “What if it doesn’t come back?”, he asked.

Your hand paused in his hair.

“What?”

“The feeling.” His voice cracked slightly. “What if this is just who I am now?”

You leaned forward and cupped his face. Immediately his eyes found yours again. The pool lights painted gold reflections across his features. “I don’t know when it’ll come back”, you admitted honestly.

His expression faltered.

“But I know this.”

You gently brushed your thumb across his cheek. “The fact that you’re standing here at four thirty in the morning because you want to feel something means you haven’t given up.”

His gaze softened. “You came up here because you’re looking for yourself.”

His hands now found your waist, pulling you even closer. Dangerously closer.

You narrowed your eyes immediately. “Jeongin.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t.”

A grin appeared. Small, suspicious. You knew that grin.

His fingers tightened around your waist. Your eyes widened. “Yang Jeongin.”

“What?”

“You’re planning something and I don’t like it.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are.”

He smiled wider and you pointed a warning finger at him.

“Don’t you dare.”

He glanced at the water, then back at you and it clicked in your head.

“Oh no.” You immediately tried scooting backward, bus his hands locked around you waist before you could escape. “Jeongin, you better not-“

The sentence never finished, because suddenly he gasped dramatically.

“What?”

His eyes widened. “Behind you!”

You turned on instinct, but there was absolutely nothing there. The second you realized your mistake, it was already too late. “JEONGIN-“

A sharp tug followed by a splash and then freezing shock. Water swallowed your scream as you plunged into the pool fully clothed. The world disappeared beneath warm blue water. For one horrifying second all you could think about was your favorite pyjama shirt.

Then you resurfaced. Sputtering and couching, trying to come back to your senses. Hair plastered across your face and a beat passed.

Jeongin was still at the edge, staring at you and his eyes slowly widened. “Oops.”

You looked at him. Completely soaked. “Oops?!”

His shoulders immediately started shaking. This idiot.

And then he started laughing harder than you had seen in weeks, real laughter. The kind that bent him forward, the kind that made his eyes disappear, the kind that sounded completely uncontrollable.

You stared for exactly three seconds. Then reached up, grabbed his wrist and pulled. “BABY, WAIT-“

Splash. His body hit the water beside you. The sound echoed across the rooftop. For a second both of you disappeared beneath the surface, but then Jeongin emerged, coughing dramatically. “You-“

“You deserved that.”

“I deserved that”, he finally admitted and wiped water from his face. You crossed your arms as the two of you stared at each other. Then burst out laughing, together. Jeongin floated onto his back, breathing hard from laughing. When you looked over at him, a smile was still lingering on his face.

You drifted closer until your shoulders bumped. His eyes found yours, now full of light, in complete contrast to before. The smile still there, showing off his dimples that you loved so much. “Come here”, he mumbled and grabbed behind your thighs, pulling you into him. You wrapped your legs around his body, feeling him close to you. Your arms automatically wrapped around his shoulders and his hands gently held you by the waist, while he slowly walked forward through the pool.

The laughter had settled into something quieter. Something softer. Jeongin rested his forehead against yours. You could still feel his smile.

“Thank you.”

The words were so quiet that you almost missed them. Your fingers played with the damp hair at the nape of his neck. “For what?”

“For coming up here and for not pretending everything was fine.”

You frowned slightly. “I would never do that.”

“I know.” Hus thumbs brushed absentmindedly against your sides beneath the water. “I think that’s why I ended up telling you.”

You looked at him. “Because I annoy you until you talk?”

A small laugh escaped him. “Partly. But mostly because you’re the only person who doesn’t try to fix it right away.”

That caught you off guard, you opened your mouth before closing it again.

Jeongin looked toward the skyline. The first sunlight was beginning to creep between the buildings. “Everyone always wants an answer”, he said quietly. “A reason, a solution.”

His jaw tightened. “But I don’t even know what’s wrong.”

You listened, occasionally squeezing his shoulders in encouragement.

“Some days I wake up and everything feels normal for an hours.” His eyes remained fixed on the horizon. “Then suddenly it’s like there’s a wall between me and everything else. People talk to me and I answer. I say I’m okay because that’s easier than trying to explain something I don’t understand myself.”

You gently brushed your thumb across his cheek. “And that’s okay. You don’t always have to understand it. I think we’re all just guessing most of the time.”

That earned the tiniest huff of amusement.

“But seriously.” Your hand moved to the back of his neck. “You keep talking about finding yourself like you’re a missing person.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“You’re still here, Jeongin. Yes, you are different from who you were three years ago. And that’s normal.” You watched his expression carefully. “I think you’re waiting for an old version of yourself to come back.”

Judging by the way his eyes lowered, they hit somewhere important. “Maybe.”

His voice was barely audible. You gently squeezed the back of his neck. “What if you’re becoming someone new and you are trying to figure out what makes you happy now? What fulfills you now?”

The sky grew brighter by the second as he stared at you. “I don’t know if I like that.”

A sad smile tugged at your lips. “I don’t think anyone does at first.”

For a long moment, he simply held you closer, as if he was trying to ground himself.

Then he finally exhaled. A long breath that seemed to leave his entire body. “You know what’s weird?”

“What?”

A faint smile returned. “This is the most I’ve felt like myself in weeks.”

Your heart squeezed.

“Just floating in a pool at five in the morning?”

“Floating in a pool at five in the morning.”

His eyes met yours. “With you.”

You leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. The city below was beginning to wake up.

He continued holding you against him, like he was afraid that if he let go too soon, all the thoughts he’d finally managed to say out loud would disappear with the moment. Your fingers still traced lazy patterns across the back of his neck. His skin was so warm.

“When I was younger, I thought I’d have myself figured out by now”, he said after a while and you tilted your head. “You did?”

His chin now rested on your shoulder. “I just thought there would come a point where everything clicked.”

You hummed. “The mythical adulthood.”

His fingers absentmindedly rubbed small circles against your side beneath the water. “I thought I’d know who I was.” His voice softened. “What I wanted and what mattered.”

“And now?”

“Now I feel like every version of me is fighting for space.”

Your thumb brushed across his cheek and his eyes fluttered briefly. “Yeah I think you’ve spent so much time being what everyone needed from you that you stopped checking what you needed from yourself.”

“Hmm”, he said absentmindedly.

“When you said, that It was easier to say you’re fine, because you wouldn’t need to explain yourself it made me think. I think people who say that stop knowing if they’re lying at some point.”

He lifted his head from your shoulder, now looking at you.

“I think that’s where you’ve been”, you concluded.

His jaw tightened. For a second you worried you’d said the wrong thing, that you might have upset him. But then he laughed – not because it was funny, because it was true.

“That sounds awful.”

“It really does.”

The two of you fell quiet again. The wind brushed across the rooftop and Jeongin rested his forehead against yours. You could practically feel him thinking.

“I miss being excited about things. I miss hearing songs and getting obsessed with them. I miss staying up all night because I found something interesting. I miss feeling things strongly.”

You brushed your nose lightly against his – a tiny gesture. “I think you’ve been running on empty for so long that your brain finally decided to shut some things off. But you know what? I think you are able to change that.

His eyes searched yours. “How?”

“By stopping the war you’re having with yourself”, you smiled softly. “Like you’re treating this like a problem you need to solve immediately. You wake up and immediately check if you feel normal.”

His face gave him away immediately and you laughed quietly.

“Then when you don’t feel normal, you get frustrated.”

His silence confirmed it.

“And then you spend the rest of the day wondering why you don’t feel normal.”

He groaned and when you raised an eyebrow, he covered his face with one hand.

“You can’t heal, while constantly checking if you’re healed.” His hand slowly lowered from his face. “You think that’s what I’ve been doing?”

“I know that’s what you’ve been doing.”

He sighed. “Maybe.”

“You’re waiting for some big sign.”

“Like suddenly waking up happy?”

“Exactly.”

He nodded and you smiled.

“I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“No?”

“No.”

You brushed a wet strand of hair from his forehead. “I think one day you’ll laugh at something and realize It felt genuine.” His expression softened.

“Then another day you’ll hear a song and play it five times in a row. And one day you’ll notice you’ve spent an entire afternoon enjoying yourself without questioning it. And only afterwards you will realize things have been getting better.”

A thoughtful silence followed. “You think it’ll happen like that?”

“I do. Not because it magically fixes itself, but because you’re finally talking about it. You finally acknowledge it. You kept pretending you were fine all those weeks and wouldn’t let me help you.” You pinched his cheek and he immediately complained. “Ow.”

But then his dimples appeared again.

“Finding yourself again doesn’t have to be some huge journey. It can start with a simple breakfast for example.” That earned a muffled laugh.

“Breakfast?”

“Breakfast.”

You splashed a little water at him. “Maybe start doing things because you enjoy them instead of because they’re useful. Go somewhere without a reason. Listen to music without checking your phone. Take pictures of random things. And stop expecting yourself to have everything figured out.”

“That sounds difficult.”

“I know.” You smiled. “But I’ll help. I’ll be there when it feels hard. When you feel like life is not manageable. When you feel like you’re suffocating because everything is too much. Or everything is too little. Or when you feel empty inside.”

A small pause.

“And if you lose yourself again?” You intertwined your fingers with his beneath the water. “We’ll look together.”

The sun finally broke over the horizon and golden light spilled across the rooftop. Across the water, across the face. And for the first time that morning Jeongin didn’t look like someone searching desperately for who he used to be. He looked like someone slowly learning that maybe he didn’t have to go backwards. Maybe he just had to keep moving forward.

He let out a shaky breath and finally he pulled you against him, engulfing you into a tight hug. A hug that said thank you. A hug that said, you give me hope. “Thank you so much”, he whispered. “I’ll try hard.”

“I am proud of you”, you whispered and put some space in between you to look at him. “How about we start by catching up on some sleep?”, he playfully suggested and he didn’t waste no time to carry you out of the pool.

“Yeah, I feel bad. I can feel you shivering”, he chuckled and placed your feet onto the floor, before wrapping you in a towel, that laid there. You looked at him in awe as he carefully dried you off and put his arm around you, guiding you back into the building, into your apartment.

“How about we go to that cute little breakfast place that serves breakfast all day after we woke up? I heard they have amazing waffles”, you suggested, as you laid in bed next to him, tucking your hands under your head. His hand caressed your arm, affectionately squeezing it. “Sounds good.”

[chantasticverse]

Can we Talk about what a masterpiece Run it is?

The visuals?! The choreo?! The whole concept?

The Bridge with Felix and Lee Know?

The Back and forth rapping between Changbin and Han?

The way the pre-Chorus built up by Seungmin and I.N?

Chan‘s soft but powerful Voice at the beginning?

And Hyunjin‘s unique Tone?

It Sounds like a freaking anthem, it is so them 🥹

Oh I know Spotify Wrapped hates to See me Coming 👉👈

[chantasticverse]

Seungmin: After Midnight - 02:21 am

Summary: After a long road trip, you and Seungmin stop at a quiet diner in the middle of a rainy night to rest, eat, and share a moment together. Your conversation turns nostalgic as Seungmin reflects on his childhood and the uncertainty that comes with adulthood. You discuss how your relationship has changed over the years, with Seungmin admitting he sometimes worries about couples growing apart over time.

Word count: 3k Warnings: Emotional discussions about adulthood and life uncertainty, fear of relationship deterioration and divorce, themes of growing apart in long-term relationships, mild relationship anxiety and vulnerability

02:21 am.

The neon sign above the diner flickered like it was tired of existing.

OPEN 24/7 buzzed in uneven red light, the letters half-dead and stubbornly refusing to go fully dark. Ran smeared the glass of the windows in long streaks, distorting the empty highway outside into something soft and distant.

Inside everything smelled like coffee, fryer oil and sugar syrup, there was something nostalgic and comforting about this place. Almost like being put to sleep by your mother when you were a baby – it felt safe being here.

You pushed the door open first. A small bell rang overhead. Seungmin followed you in, shaking rain from his jacket, hair damp at the ends, hoodie half-zipped.

The diner was empty except for a man behind the counter reading a newspaper and a woman in a booth near the back, asleep with her head on folded arms. That was it.

You slid into a booth by the window. Seungmin sat opposite you automatically, elbows on the table, trying to warm up his hands. After a long drive back from your weekend trip you decided to take a short break in that diner – you were incredibly exhausted and hungry.

Outside, rain tapped softly against the glass.

A waitress appeared without a sound with some paper and a pen, ready to take your order. “Coffee?”, she asked.

“Two cups please and could we have the menu for food please?”, Seungmin asked, while taking off his jacket and neatly folding it next to him. She left with a nod and Seungmin leaned back in his seat. The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable.

You stretched your legs beneath the table, bumping your foot against Seungmin’s. Immediately without looking he hooked his ankle around yours. The automatic nature of how he did that made you smile.

The waitress returned a few minutes later, placing two steaming cups of coffee onto the table before sliding a menu toward you. You wrapped both hands around your mug and inhaled the scent of the life saving liquor. “God.”

Seungmin chuckled softly and took a sip himself. “Oh yes, that’s some good stuff”, he murmured. “I feel more refreshed now.” No wonder, after he drove the whole time. “I told you, I could also take over so you can rest a bit. My offer still stands.” You still felt, since he did all the work and you got to sleep some hours while he was on the wheel. But he just wouldn’t let you.

He shook his head. “No, I won’t let you do that. That weekend trip was for you to rest and this also includes the drive back”, he replied and grabbed the menu, skimming through it. You did the same and quickly decided that some pancakes would do it.

After the waitress took your order, Seungmin looked up at you.

The entire diner felt frozen in time somehow. Like if you came back ten years from now, the same woman would still be asleep in the back booth and the same newspaper would still be sitting in front of the man at the counter.

“It’s weird.”

His voice broke through your thoughts.

“What is?”

He glanced around. “This place.”

You smiled. “What about it?”

“It feels familiar.”

The answer surprised you. “You’ve never been here.”

“I know.” His fingers traced absentmindedly around the rim of his coffee mug. “But it reminds me of something.”

You tilted your head. “What?”

He thought for a moment. “Family trips.”

Your expression softened immediately.

“When I was younger.” His eyes drifted toward the window, the raindrops slowly finding their way down the glass. “My parents always stopped at places like this during road trips. And I loved it. Now that we’re sitting here, I got flashbacks to my childhood.”

The smile on his face wasn’t sad, just nostalgic. “You know what I remember most?”

“What?”

“The feeling.”

You frowned slightly. “What feeling?”

Seungmin leaned back again. “The feeling that my parents knew where we were going.”

He paused, thinking his words through. You looked at him, mesmerized by the way he talked about his childhood. You could never get tired of it, you loved hearing stories from his past.

Then he broke the silence. “When you’re a kid, someone else always has the map.”

The words settled somewhere deep inside your chest, because you knew exactly what he meant. The older you got, the more you realized nobody actually knew where they were going. They were just pretending slightly better. But when you were a kid, your parents always seemed to know what to do. Where to go to. And now that you were an adult yourself, you kept asking yourself what the next step was. If the next step was the right one, or if you were about to make a mistake.

The waitress returned to take your order and you decided to add some maple syrup and blueberries to your pancakes. The waitress disappeared again.

The diner grew quiet again and somehow, without either of you meaning to the conversation shifted. Maybe it was the rain. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the realization that the weekend was ending.

Seungmin stared into his coffee. Then suddenly he asked: “Do you ever think about how different we are now?”

You took another sip of your coffee. “What do you mean exactly?”

“Compared to when we fist started dating.”

A small smile pulled at your lips. “Oh god.”

“What?”

“We were embarrassing.”

Seungmin groaned. “We really were.”

“Remember when you got upset because I  didn’t text you back for forty minutes?”

His face immediately dropped into his hands. “Please don’t.”

“You thought I was mad at you.”

“You were my girlfriend for two weeks, I thought I fucked up.”

“I was taking a nap.”

“Well in that forty minute of pure torture, I didn’t know that.”

You laughed and the sound bounced softly around the empty diner. That had been ridiculous. Young and insecure and terrified of doing something wrong.

Seungmin smiled too. But it slowly faded. Not completely, just enough for you to notice. “You know”, he said quietly. “I think I miss that version of us sometimes.”

Your eyebrows lifted. “You do?”

“A little.”

That surprised you. Because if someone had offered you the relationship you had now versus the relationship you had then, you would’ve chosen now every single time. Because you collected memories over the last couple of years. You grew together, got more mature. Knew each other better.

Seeing your expression, Seungmin quickly added: “Not because it was better.” He looked down at his hands. “It was just … everything felt so simple.” Even though you felt a little ping in your heart. There it was. The real thought.

“Simple how?”

He was quiet for a moment. Then. “I never worried about losing this. I mean, yes I did fought for you and I still do, don’t get me wrong. I’d do anything to keep you and make sure you’re happy. But back then I think it was easier I think? I mean we are busier now. We have jobs.”

Seungmin immediately looked embarrassed. You stared at him. Of all the things you expected him to say tonight, that wasn’t one of them. His gaze dropped again.

“Different schedules. Sometimes weeks go by so fast that I don’t even realize they’re over.”

Your heart ached, because you understood. Not the fear itself, but where it came from. Life had changed. You had changed. Both of you had. Even if you grew together, shared all important milestones with each other, life itself was something you had no influence in.

The version of yourselves from years ago would’ve been shocked by who you were now. And sometimes growth felt scary because it never stopped. You reached across the table. Seungmin looked down as your fingers found his. Immediately he intertwined them.

“You know what I think?”

He glanced up. “What?”

“I think we’re close because we’ve grown.”

His brows furrowed slightly and you squeezed his hand. “We’re not the same people we were. When we first started dating, closeness meant spending every second together.” You smiled at him, thinking back to all the firsts you shared with each other.

“No sometimes closeness means sitting in silence during a four hour drive. Or stopping at a random diner at two in the morning.” You rubbed your thumb across his knuckles. “I don’t think growing up tighter means staying the same. I think it means choosing each other again every time you change.”

The words hung between you. The waitress appeared carrying your plates. Neither of you noticed, not right away at least. Seungmin was looking at you, like he was trying to memorize something. Then a smile appeared. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

You shot him another smile as you leaned back into your booth. “Of course it does. Everything I say makes sense.” He rolled his eyes as he was the one now squeezing your fingers. Then the smell of the pancakes immediately broke the moment.

“Oh my god.”

Seungmin laughed. “Of course, you would forget we were having an emotional conversation because pancakes arrived.”

“Pause, they look delicious. Hold on, I am starving. Give me a minute and I can be as emotional as you want.” You grabbed a fork and a knife, slicing a piece off the stack before immediately shoving it into your mouth. Your eyes widened.

“Oh.”

Seungmin raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

You pointed the fork at him. “These are incredible!” You swallowed dramatically, pointing at his plate. “You have to try them!” He looked at you for a second, his gaze softening at your adorable reaction before cutting off a piece himself. As he shoved it into his mouth, you looked at him expectingly

“Well?”

Seungmin chewed slowly. His expression remained completely unreadable. You narrowed your eyes. “Kim Seungmin.”

He swallowed. Took a sip of coffee. Looked out the window. Then back at you. “They’re alright.”

You gasped so loudly the man behind the counter looked up from his newspaper. “Alright?” He nodded calmly. “Pretty good.” You scoffed and shoved another piece into your mouth. “I know deep down you’re actually freaking out. Your taste buds are probably celebrating a fiesta”, you murmured.

Seungmin snorted into his coffee. “They don’t.”

“They absolutely do.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and for a moment the conversation dissolved into comfortable silence again. The neon sign outside buzzed softly. A truck rumbled past on the highway, its headlights briefly flooding the diner with pale white light before disappearing into the darkness.

You took another bite and Seungmin stirred his coffee absentmindedly.

Once, twice, three times, four times.

You watched the spoon circle though the dark liquid. The same way you had watched him stare out of the window earlier. Thinking, always thinking. The smile that had been sitting on his face faded slightly. You knew that look.

“Ok Seungmin, what’s on your mind?”

His gaze lifted immediately. “What?”

“You’re pulling that face.”

“What face?”

“Seungmin.”

A quiet laugh escaped him, then he looked at his coffee again. “It’s just … I still think about what we were talking about before we got interrupted by those pancakes.” He kept staring into his coffee, the spoon had stopped moving now.

You watched him quietly, waiting. Eventually Seungmin sighed. “It’s stupid.”

“I am pretty sure it isn’t.”

A faint smile appeared, then he finally looked up again. “Do you ever worry that one day we’ll wake up and realize we’ve become strangers?”

The question hit so unexpectedly that you actually froze. Seungmin immediately looked away, like he’d regretted saying that out loud. “Forgeti it.”

“No.”

His eyes returned to yours. You could see the embarrassment there. The vulnerability. Seungmin wasn’t talking about a breakup. That wasn’t what scared him. You knew that.

“What do you mean?”, you asked softly. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know.”

A pause.

“My parents were talking about some old friends recently.”

You listened.

“They were married for years. Then one day they got divorced.”

You frowned slightly.

Then he stared out at the highway. “And everybody said the same thing.” His voice had gone quieter now. “They just grew apart.”

The words settled heavily between you. You knew that phrase. Everybody did. It always sounded so casual, so harmless. Like people were talking about weather and not the end of an entire life built together.

“I hate that phrase.”

Seungmin laughed softly. “So do I.”

His gaze dropped to the table. “How do you spend years with someone an suddenly become strangers?” You knew the question wasn’t directed at you, it sounded more like something he’d been carrying around for a while.

“And you know what scares me the most about it? That it doesn’t happen suddenly.”

Your chest tightened.

“Maybe it happens little by little. Maybe people get busy.” His thumb rubbed against the edge of his mug.

“They stop talking as much. They stop noticing things. They get used to each other. They don’t appreciate each other anymore. Then one day they look at each other and realize they don’t know who the other person is anymore.”

You looked down at your pancakes. At the syrup slowly running toward the edge of the plate. Then back at him. “is that what you’re scared of?”

He hesitated for a second, then nodded. Now it made sense. The conversation about growing, about change, about missing older versions of yourselves. He wasn’t afraid of losing you, he was afraid of waking up one day and realizing he hadn’t kept up with who you were becoming. And maybe he was afraid you’d feel the same about him.

You reached across the table, grabbing his hands, squeezing them. “Seungmin.”

He looked up.

“You know why I don’t think this is going to happen? Because you’re sitting in a diner at three in the morning worrying about it.”

A confused laugh escaped him. “What?”

“The people who stop knowing each other usually stop asking questions.” You took a deep breath, giving him a reassuring smile. “You still ask me about my day. You still notice when something is wrong. You still know when I am lying.”

“That’s because you’re a terrible liar”, he interrupted dryly.

“That’s not the point.”

He gently pinched your hand.

“When I change, you notice. When you change, I notice too.”

The diner felt quieter than before if that was even possible. It felt like even the universe was listening.

“You know what I think growing together actually is?”

He shook his head.

“What?”

You smiled. “I think it’s meeting each other over and over again.”

His expression shifted, just slightly. “What?”

“You change. I change. We both become different people every couple of years. The trick is staying curious.” The words lingered, you could see him thinking about them.

“You really believe that?” His voice was quiet and you nodded. “Besides, if we’re still stopping at random diners together when we’re eighty, I think we’re doing alright.”

That finally earned a real laugh, the kind that reached his eyes. The kind you’d been trying to bring back all evening. And as the rain continued to fall outside and the coffee slowly grew cold between your hands, you watched some of the fear leave his shoulders.

“And you know, there might not be a map for life. No one has that. But we can navigate through life together”, you said softly and intertwined your fingers, A smile tugged on his lips, while she enjoyed your touches. “That was painfully … poetic. In a beautiful way tho”, he murmured and smiled in satisfaction, while detangling your hands to finish your pancakes. “Poetic, but true.”

As soon as you finished your food you left the diner. Cold air immediately wrapped around your as you stepped outside. You pulled your jacket closer. “It got colder.”

Seungmin was already digging through his pockets for the car keys. The familiar beep of the car unlocking echoed though the nearly empty parking lot. You made your way across the wet asphalt together. When you reached the car, Seunmgin automatically opened your door before walking around to his side – a habit.

The moment you sat down, warmth greeted you. The lingering heat from the earlier drive.

The doors shot and Seungmin started the engine. The radio flickered on quietly, some old song neither of you knew. Slowly he turned to you and reached over to adjust the hood of your jacket. The gesture was so casual it almost made your chest hurt. His fingers lingered briefly near your cheek before disappearing again.

Seungmin shifted the car into gear – then a second later his hand left the gear shift and settled on your thigh. Immediate warmth spread across your skin while you placed your hand over his as well. His fingers curled around yours. They were so warm, comfortable and familiar. “You didn’t finish your pancakes”, you suddenly said and his head shot to your direction. “Why are you thinking about that right now?”

You shrugged your shoulders. “Priorities.” You grinned and absentmindedly started tracing shapes across the back of his hand with your thumb. Circles, lines.

The faint grin was there. Even when he tried to hide it, you saw it. “I can’t with you”, he murmured and lifted your hand in his, moving it to his lips to leave several kisses on it, while his eyes stayed glued on the street.

The highway was nearly empty, only a handful of headlights in the distance were seen. It was quiet for a while. The rain kept falling on the windshield, drawing some fine lines on it.

When you left the highway and got back in the city you stopped at a red light. It was quiet. Then he broke the silence, the next words being mumbled against your knuckles, that still rested on his lips, because he couldn’t bear to let you go. “I love you.” He turned his head to you, the red light dancing over his beautiful face.

With a content smile you leaned over to him, softly pressing your lips on his now. “I love you.”

[chantasticverse]

Felix: After Midnight - 03:37 am

Summary: Felix is baking in the middle of the night because he can’t sleep and is overwhelmed by homesickness. As he opens up, he admits he misses Australia, his family, and the version of himself he used to be before fame took over his life. You comfort him and gently encourage him to stop postponing a visit home.

Word count: 3,1k Warnings: Homesickness and emotional distress, mild anxiety and exhaustion (sleep deprivation), themes of burnout and loss of personal identity due to fame, brief emotional vulnerability and sadness, mention of family separation due to work/travel demands

You shifted. You turned. Tried to find a position that was comfortable enough to fall asleep again, but something felt off. Your hand reached for the other side of the bed only to be met with cold emptiness. Slowly you tapped the empty space, as if Felix would appear again, if you did that – but he stayed missing.

The room was quiet. Only tires hissing over wet pavement outside could be heard. The window was open and you shivered as you got goosebumps because of the coldness.

For a moment you thought Felix had gone to the bedroom, but then you smelt something. Butter. Vanilla. Something sweet browning in the oven.

Now you opened your eyes fully. Blinking at the ceiling for a second, disoriented, you turned toward the digital clock glowing on the nightstand.

03:37 am.

“What the hell?”, you murmured into the pillow and sat up, trying to make sense out of everything. You rubbed sleep from your eyes and pulled the hoodie that hung from the dge of the bed on before padding barefoot into the hallway. The light in the hallway was off, but the soft lighting from the kitchen illuminated the path.

The overhead light above the stove cast everything gold. Cool air slipped through the open window, carrying petrichor and distant thunder into the room.

Felix stood at the counter in grey sweatpants and one of his old shirts, sleeves shoved to his elbows. His hair was messy in a way that meant he’d been running his hands though it vor hours. He didn’t notice you at first.

He was so focused on the bowl in front of him, whisk moving lazily while flour dusted the counter like snow

You leaned against the doorway, watching him quietly. There was something painfully tender about seeing him like this – exhausted and awake and trying to fill the emptiness of the night with sugar. 

“You know”, you started hoarsely, “Most people just watch bad documentaries when they can’t sleep.”

Felix startled so hard he nearly dropped the whisk. “Oh my”, he pressed a hand to his chest, glaring at you weakly. “You scared the shit out of me.”

You grinned sleepily. “Sorry.” You wandered closer, drawn by warmth and the smell. After taking a look at the counter you noticed the tray of chocolate brownies sat near the stove. Another bowl overflowed with dough beneath a dish towel.

“Oh, wow. You’ve been busy”, you murmured.

Felix shrugged, eyes dropping back to the batter. “I couldn’t sleep.” You studied him more carefully now. “You could’ve woken me”, you said softly, but he was quick to shut it down. “Nah.”

You tilted your head, taking him in. There were shadows beneath his eyes – not fresh ones – older ones, lingering for days now. He’d been quieter lately. Distracted. More phone calls home. Longer silences afterward.

You slipped onto the counter beside him, cold marble against he back of your thighs. He moved automatically closer to the counter in front of the tray, his arm occasionally brushing your skin while he continued whisking.

“Are you having cravings or why did you decide to bake at almost 4 am?”, you asked, looking at him, while his eyes stayed glued to the dough. “I’m just opening a bakery at four in the morning specifically to impress you. Is it working?” You smiled faintly at him. “It is actually.”

A contended smile appeared on his face. You now watched his hands. Felix always baked differently when something was wrong. Usually he moved fast, efficient and confident, but tonight everything about him was slow. Careful. Like he was trying not to think too loudly.

You nudged his arm gently. “What’s going on in your head?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

Felix sighed though his nose. The whisk stilled and for a moment only rain filled the silence between you.

Then he said quietly. “I miss home.”

Simply, but heavy words. Your expression softened immediately.

He stared into the bowl quietly. “It’s stupid”, he muttered.

“Hey, it’s not stupid.”

“It is.”

“You’re allowed to miss home.”

Felix shrugged again, shoulders right. “I just haven’t felt it this bad in a while.”

You reached over and  stole a little flour from the counter rubbing it between your fingers absentmindedly. “What brought it on?”

Felix glanced toward the open window. “The rain maybe.”

You followed his gaze. The city shimmered silver black outside. Rainwater streamed down old buildings and balcony railings. The city looked beautiful in storms – quiet and cinematic and cold.

“My mum used to bake whenever it rained”, Felix said softly after a while. “No matter what time it was.”

You stayed quiet, letting him speak.

“She always said storms made the house feel cozy.” A tiny smile touched his mouth. “I’d sit on the kitchen counter and annoy her while she baked.

“You still annoy people while they bake.”

“Yea but now I am the one baking.”

His voice cracked slightly at the end. He cleared his throat immediately and turned back toward the bowl. “I think I am just tired.”

You reached over and hooked your fingers lazily into the waistband of his sweatpants and pulled him closer until he stood directly between your knees. “You wanna talk about it?”

He hesitated. Then he finally nodded once.

“It’s weird”, he admitted quietly. “I haven’t been back in almost a year.”

His life moved constantly – meetings, flights, concerts, fanmeets, ambassadorship jobs. Every hour of his calendar belonged to someone. Everyone wanted something from him all the time. Sometimes you thought the only hours Felix truly owned anymore were these strange sleepless ones between midnight and dawn.

He stared out of the rain-covered window quietly.

“My mum called earlier”, he murmured. You stayed silent.

“She was telling me about this storm back home.” His mouth twitched faintly. “Apparently the power went out at the house again.”

“Classic.”

“Mhm.”

His eyes stayed fixed somewhere far beyond. “She sounded so happy tho.”

They way he said it made your chest ache. “She asked when I’m coming home next.” He laughed softly under his breath. “And I realized I genuinely don’t know.”

Your slowly put you hands on his shoulders, slowly letting them drift over his arms, giving them a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry”, you said quietly.”

Rain drifted cool through the open window behind him. “I miss stupid things”, he admitted after a moment. “Not even important things.”

“Like what?”

Felix thought for a second. “The smell after summer storms.”

You smiled faintly. “In Australia, yeah?”

“Mhm.” His eyes softened somewhere distant. “Rain on hot pavement there smells different.” A tiny smile tugged at his mouth. “Everything smells like eucalyptus afterwards. And the air’s warm event at night.” He glanced out of the window again.

The past months had been relentless for him. Constant travel, constant cameras, constants pressure. Every time one project ended, three more appeared waiting. Ane he really handled it all beautifully – just like how everyone expected him to.

Until nights like this.

Nights where he woke up homesick at three in the morning.

“You know what I miss?”, he said quietly.

“What?”

“Being somewhere nobody needed anything from me.”

Your heart cracked a little. Felix rarely said things like that aloud.

He rested his palms against the counter on either side of you, head lowered slightly. “At home, I could just”, he searched for words tiredly. “Exist.”  You reached up and brushed your fingers through his messy hair. “You still can.”

He looked at you like you’d said something impossible. “No, I can’t.” The honesty of it hit hard. You knew he didn’t mean with you. You were the exception. But the rest of the world treated Felix like resource before they treated him like a person.

His schedule controlled entire companies. One delayed flight changed fifteen people’s days. His phone never stopped vibrating. Even now, sitting beside bags of flour in the morning, there were probably unread emails multiplying by the second.

“You wanna know something pathetic?”, he asked quietly.

“Always.”

A tired smile appeared briefly. “I sued to complain constantly about how boring Sydney felt.”

“Mhm.”

“And now I’d kill to drive down the coast for an hour with absolutely nobody recognizing me.”

You rubbed your thumb slowly against his wrist. “That’s not pathetic.”

He laughed softly under his breath. “I miss when I was being able to go into a grocery store and nobody cared.”

“That is the saddest famous-person problem I’ve ever heard”, you tried to lighten the mood and it actually rewarded you with another smile from him. “It’s devastating actually”, you playfully agreed and you smiled despite yourself.

Felix finally looked at you properly then. He looked so exhausted. Beautiful but exhausted.

“My das also sent photos yesterday”, he murmured. “They redid the back patio.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.” He smiled faintly to himself. “There’s this huge stupid outdoor kitchen now.”

“That sounds exactly like your father.”

“It really does.”

The smile faded afterward. “I should’ve been there.”

“You were working.”

“I am always working.”

You didn’t argue with that because it was true. Felix ran a hand tiredly across his face before turning toward the oven. The timer beeped sharply.

“Oh shit.” Heat flooded the kitchen as he opened the oven door. The smell of cinnamon immediately intensified. You nearly died on the spot. “Oh my god.”

Felix slid the tray out carefully. Golden pastries glistened beneath melting icing. “You’re emotionally unstable but unfortunately very talented”, you said, ogling the goods.

“Thank you.”

“Marry me immediately.”

“I’d get down on my knees immediately.”

You laughed softly and felt some wight lifting off your shoulders, when you saw how the tension in his shoulders slightly loosened. “Come here”, you said quietly. Felix looked at you for a second before stepping between your knees again automatically. You wrapped your arms around his waist beneath his shirt. He rested his forehead against your shoulder with a slow exhale. For a while neither of you spoke.

The apartment hummed gently around you – rain against glass, jazz music crackling low, distant thunder rolling somewhere over the city.

”You know what’s weird?”, Felix murmured eventually.

“What?”

“I don’t even think I miss Australia itself sometimes.”

You frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“I miss who I was there.”

The words settled heavily between you. His voice had gone quieter now. More honest. “Before everything got so ..." He gestured vaguely with one hand. “Big.”

You rubbed circles slowly back into his back.

“At home I was just Felix.”

The ache in those words nearly undid you. Just Felix. His mother’s son. His sister’s older brother. A boy walking along Australian beaches with salt in the air and absolutely  nobody asking him for anything.

“I think”, you said softly. “that version of you still exists.”

Felix pulled back slightly to look at you. “You do?”

“Yeah.”

You brushed his hair away from his forehead gently. “He’s just tired.” Something in his expression shifted then. Not fixed, but softer. You kissed the corner of his mouth lightly. “Can I help?”

“With what?”

“You 4 am identity crisis bakery.” Felix snorted. You can ice the cinnamon rolls.”

“Uhh, you think I can take on that responsibility?”

“My super woman? Hell yes.” He handed you the bowl of icing. You immediately stole a spoonful. Felix stared at you. “You lasted four seconds.”

“It’s quality control. I am your super woman, remember?”

He rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward. “You abuse your powers. Didn’t take that long.”

“I am not!”, you gasped dramatically. He pointed at the icing covered spoon still hanging out of your mouth. “May I remind you that you stole my icing?”

“Our icing.”

“There it is again. The communism.”

You laughed so hard you nearly dropped the bowl. The sound echoed softly through the kitchen. For a moment it worked – the distraction. Then you dipped the spoon back into the icing.

“Okay, new topic.”

Felix narrowed his eyes immediately, sensing something dangerous.

“What’s one thing a fan gifted to that stuck to you the most?”

Felix groaned. “You don’t want to know.”

He seemed to think about your question, clearly thinking. Then his face lit up.

He took a deep breath, his cheeks now puffing up, before exhaling again. “An envelope.”

You blinked. “An envelope?”

“It literally said ‘Open when emotionally unstable.’”

You stared at him. “That’s actually .. terrifying.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you open it?”

“Of course, as soon as I got it. I couldn’t bear the thought of having an envelope with such a cryptic message on it, without knowing what’s inside.”

You chuckled. “What was inside?”

“A handwritten letter and a tea bag.”

“A tea bag?”

“A tea bag.”

“What kind?”

“Chamomile.”

“Honestly?” You pointed at him. “That’s kind of sweet.”

“There’s even more.”

“Yeah?”

“The letter started with: Dear Felix, If you’re reading this, the universe has broken you. I am really sorry about that. Please drink the tea before making any major life decisions. Like buying a farm, getting bangs, starting a cult. Especially the cult thing. You have the charisma for it.”

By this point Felix was laughing, recalling the content of the letter.

“Then it said: If the tea has not helped, please proceed to Page 2. And Page 2 said: Things that are probably true: Your mum is proud of you, you are almost certainly overthinking something. You should drink some water.”

He paused, while you expectingly waited for him to continue. You slowly squeezed his hand.

“Then there was a third page, and now comes the weird part. It said: If you’re currently awake between 2 am and 5 am, you are legally forbidden from trusting your own thoughts. On a more serious note: You don’t know me and it’s okay. I just wanted to say thank you. Sometimes people forget that being seen by thousands of people doesn’t automatically mean being understood. I hope you have people who know who you are when the cameras are off. I hope you have somewhere that feels like home. And if today is difficult, I hope tomorrow is a little easier.”

You gulped, somehow touched. The words were so carefully chosen, so simple yet so effective. And the fact that Felix memorized it clearly showed that it stuck to him.

“That’s so sweet”, you whispered.

He nodded. “Yeah and then it said: I hope you have people who love Felix – not the version of Felix everyone else thinks they know.”

He looked at you closely before lifting his hand, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “And when I read that last sentence, it made me immediately think of you. And every time I think about it, I feel even more appreciative of you. And I feel like I don’t thank you enough for that.” The last sentence came out weaker than intended and you couldn’t help but wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him against you in a tight hug.

“There is no need to thank me for that”, you said quietly and nuzzled your face into the crook of his neck.

“One important question tho”, you said after a while, interrupting the comfortable silence.

“Hm?”, he hummed, closing his eyes and fully melting into the hug.

“Was the tea good?” He chuckled, tightening his grip around you, lighting pressing his lips to your ear. “Yeah, it actually kept me from joining a cult”, he answered dryly.

Your laugh vibrated against his skin, low and warm. “Good”, you said. “I’d hate to lose you to a cult.”

“It would’ve been a very peaceful cult.”

“Yeah, that’s the most dangerous kind.”

He finally pulled back enough to look at you, one eyebrow raised. The heaviness was still there behind his eyes, but it wasn’t swallowing him whole anymore. It had loosened its grip.

The rain continued drumming softly against the windows. You picked up the icing bowl again. “Come on then.”

“What?”

“Let us ice these now.”

He gently pinched your sides and pointed at the bowl with his hand. “Ladies first.”

You dipped a spoon into the icing and attempted to drizzle it over one of the cinnamon rolls. The icing immediately slid off the side and onto the tray.

Felix closed his eyes and your head shot to his direction. “What?!”

“You did well, baby. But how about you let me do that?” You knew you fucked up, he was just too sweet to tell it to your face.  You exhaled and handed him the spoon.

The took it from your hand before you could commit further crimes against pastry. Watching him work was strangely calming. He moved automatically and he looked so professional like a little baker. A smile tugged at your lips as you watched him instead of the cinnamon rolls. He looked concentrated, tongue sticking out and all.

“I really miss baking with my mum”, he suddenly said suddenly and carefully spread another ribbon of icing over the cinnamon rolls. His voice was quiet again. The way homesickness seemed to creep back into his expression whenever he stopped joking.

“Then go see her.”

The spoon paused midair. He looked up. It was such a simple suggestion that It almost seemed to catch him off guard.

“What?”

“Go home.”

A soft laugh escaped him. “Yeah, because it’s that easy.”

“I’m serious.”

He set the spoon down. “Baby, I don’t even know when I’d have time.”

“Then we will find time.”

He shook his head immediately. “It’s not that simple. I have rehearsals next week. And then the campaign shoot. And after that there’s Tokyo. And then-“

You held up a hand. “See?”

“What?”

“You already know your schedule.

“I don’t.”

“You literally just listed half of it.”

You hopped down from your seat and walked over to where his phone sat charging beside the coffee machine. Picking it up, you held it out toward him. He knew exactly what you wanted him do to. He unlocked his calendar and the screen immediately filled with colored blocks.

“Damn”, you breathed out and looked with him. There had to be a free slot somewhere. Then – you pointed at a stretch several weeks away. “What about there?”

He frowned. “There’s actually not much there.”

“Then you know what to do”, you encouraged him softly. His expression softened.

You gently took his free hand. “You haven’t been home in almost a year and you miss it. You will feel so much better once you’re there. Even if it’s just for a few days.”

The kitchen fell quiet and eventually Felix looked down at the calendar again. “You should call your manager tomorrow or more like today”, you suggested. “Talk to him, I am pretty sure it’s possible.”

Then he raised his head again, looking at you. “I love you, you know that?”

You smiled. “I know.”

“Good.” He pressed a kiss on your forehead and lingered there for a second. “I’ll do it”, he concluded and you looked at him proudly. “Good, now finish off whatever you were doing and let’s go to bed.”

[chantasticverse]

Han: After Midnight - 01:11 am

Summary: During a late-night drive, Han opens up about his fears of the future, questioning whether pursuing music was the right choice and worrying that he still doesn't have life figured out at twenty-five. You reassure him that uncertainty is normal and remind him that choosing a path he genuinely loves is something many people never have the courage to do.

Word count: 3,1k Warnings: Emotional vulnerability and self-doubt, anxiety about the future and life choices, career uncertainty and fear of failure, existential reflections on adulthood and identity

The dashboard clock glowed a soft blue.

01:11 am.

Neither of you said anything when the numbers changed. The city stretched below you, distant enough to look peaceful, close enough to remind you that life was waiting down there. Cars moved like tiny fireflies along the highways. Office towers stood silent against the darkness. Somewhere far below, people were laughing in bars, falling asleep in their apartments, having arguments, making up.

Inside the car, everything felt suspended. The engine had been off for almost ten minutes now.

A summer breeze drifted through the cracked windows, carrying the scent of warm asphalt and dry grass from the empty parking lot. The music playing from the speakers was barely audible – a slow indie song neither of you particularly loved but neither bothered changing it.

It filled the silence without demanding attention.

You sat curled sideways in the passenger seat, knees pressed to your chest. Your shoes were kicked off on the floorboard. Your fingers traced invisible patterns against the cold plastic of a water bottle resting in your lap. Beside you, Han stared through the windshield.

The city lights reflected faintly in his eyes. His tired eyes. He looked like he had spent the entire day carrying thoughts too heavy to put down.

You had noticed earlier, but didn’t want to push him to talk about it. You had asked him if he wanted to go on a little late night drive, because you thought maybe it would ease his mind – whatever what was bothering him. But now that you are this viewpoint of the city, you clearly noticed that his mind was still somewhere else, just not there.

“You’ve been quiet.”

Han smiled without looking at you.

“So have you.”

“That’s because I am waiting for you to talk.”

A small laugh escaped him. “There it is.”

“What?”

“The therapist voice.”

You gasped, fully turning your body toward him. “I don’t have a therapist voice.”

Finally he turned his head toward you. “You absolutely do.” You nudged his arm. “I care about you”, you said softer, letting your hand glide over his arm to reach for his hand. “Something has been bothering you, I can see it. You know I would never ever push you if you don’t want to talk about it, but maybe whatever it is, I can help?”

He exhaled slowly, responding to your touch, by quickly engulfing your hand with his own. The music continued humming through the speakers and for a moment you thought he’d dodge the question again. You knew he had trouble to open up to someone. He’d rather suffer in silence than ask for help.

Then finally he leaned his head back against the seat. “You ever think about how weird this is?”

You frowned. “What do you mean exactly?”

“This.” His hand gestures toward the windshield. “The city. Being twenty 25. Life itself.”

You laughed softly. “Everyday.”

“No, seriously.”

“I am serious too.”

Han stared upward through the glass. “I keep feeling like everyone around me has it all figured out. And I … I don’t.”

You hummed, softly squeezing his hand. He often had doubts about if the path that he had chosen was the right one. If there was more. If there was another life waiting for him.

“It feels like there is an invisible countdown. And witch every year that passes I have the feeling that everything that I did and am still doing is wrong”, he continued. “God, that sounds stupid”, he murmured and looked away, the lamppost next to the car suddenly being very interesting.

“Hey”, you said, crawling his neck. “It’s not stupid. You’re young. You are allowed to try out stuff. You are allowed to question everything. Life is about trying things to find out what makes you happy.”

Then he rubbed the back of his neck – and spoke again. “I thought by now I’d know exactly who I was.” You grinned. “You think you don’t know who you are?”, you replied softly and scooted closer, so you could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

“Yeah”, he admitted weakly.  At the sound of his voice your heart shattered a bit. “Every twenty five year old thinks they’re supposed to have everything figured out, but you know what? You don’t have to have it figured it out. It’s okay if you’re still trying to make sense of everything”, you cooed quietly.

Finally he looked at you. “Yeah, I know, but still. I have the feeling that times rushes by so fast and I am so scared that when I am like 80 I will look back and regret that I didn’t try certain things.”

He exhaled slowly.

“Sometimes I still wonder.” He glanced down at his hands. “What would’ve happened if I hadn’t started making music.”

Your expression changed immediately. Gentler, more attentive. You knew what music meant to him. Everybody did. Had had loved it longer than he’d loved almost anything. There had always been music. Always his guitar. His little notebook where he scribbled lyric ideas in.

“My dad wanted me to study engineering.”

You laughed. “You would’ve hated that.”

“I would’ve been terrible.”

“You sucked at school physics.”

“I only failed once!”

“More like five times.”

“That’s not the point.”

You grinned as his gaze drifted back toward the city. “But sometimes I still think about it.”

“What?”

“That version of me who didn’t do this.” He gestured vaguely. “The version that took the safe route.”

You listened. Han rarely talked like this. Normally he was confident, funny, always moving. But now he was so open and fragile.

“Maybe I’d have a normal job. A normal sleep schedule.”

You laughed. “Yeah, maybe.” Then silence filled the car. You let his words sink in. And apparently he did as well, because you could clearly see the engines in his head working. Then you broke it.

“Do you regret it?” The question hung in the air. He thought for a moment.

“No.” The response came immediately. “Never.” He shook his head, the conviction surprised even him. “I love it too much.”

You smiled – there it was. The thing you loved hearing. That honesty, that certainty. Because whenever Han talked about music, his entire face changed, something inside him lit up. “Even when it’s hard?”

“Especially when it’s hard.”

His eyes stayed fixed on the skyline.

“I hate uncertainty.” He laughed softly.

“I hate comparing myself to people. I hate numbers. I hate wondering if I’m doing enough. But I still love making music.” The answer came without hesitation. “More than anything.”

A beat passed.

“And I think that’s what scares me.”

“What does?”

“Wanting something this much. When you care about something enough … it can hurt you.”

You looked at him. The dreamer constantly questioning whether he deserved his own dreams. The boy who wrote songs but struggled to believe compliments himself.

“You know what I think?”

He smiled. “Here it comes.”

You ignored that. “I think you’re brave.”

“But-“, he tried to interrupt but you shushed him. “You left certainty years ago. You picked the thing you actually loved.”

“But that doesn’t make me brave.”

“Most people never do that.”

The words lingered, he didn’t answer. Because some part of him knew you were right.

“And you know what? There are so many people, that don’t know what they are doing. Or if they path they have chosen is even the correct one. Hell, I bet those who seem like they got it together, just act like they know what they are doing, when in reality they are doubting themselves just as you are now. But that’s okay. Life is meant to be figured out. There is no manual that tells you what’s correct and what now. Except for criminal offences.”

He chuckled lowly as you continued.

“There are trillions of possibilities what you could be doing with your life. You can try out as many things as you want. The good thing is, if tried something that turns out is not right for you, that’s a good thing, because you know what you don’t like. And if you find something that you like, it’s even better. In your case you found something – music. Even if it comes with some side effects. What matters in the end is that you love what you do. Because if you really love something, you put up with the disadvantages. Because nothing in life comes without any cons”

The silence stretched again. Outside a warm summer breeze swept across the parking lot, while the dashboard clock changed constantly.  Han rested his head against the wheel. Your words definitely left a lasting impression.

“You’re right. Hell, yes you are so right.”

He paused for a moment - he was still thinking. He couldn’t help it. He was one of the worst overthinkers you knew.

“It’s just … there are so many what ifs, you know? What if I moved to another country? What if I never picked up a guitar? What if I met different people? What if I made different choices?” The questions drifted into the darkness, like pages from unwritten stories – one after another.

He shook his head. “It’s weird. No matter what version I imagine …”

He paused. A small smile appearing. “I always end up looking for you.”

Your heart stumbled at his words. You tried not to react, but failed immediately.

He continued. “I question a lot of things. I question my career. I question my songs.  Question myself way more than I should.” He laughed softly. “But there’s one thing I am one hundred percent sure about.”

The world suddenly felt smaller, more intimate. Like everything outside the card had disappeared. You held his gaze and waited for him to continue. Han reached across the center console and took your hand. His thumb brushed across your knuckles in a gentle, loving, familiar way. Then he smiled. The kind of smile that was only reserviced to you. That no else ever got.

“It’s you.”

You felt your breath catch. He squeezed your hand. “My baby.” His voice barely above a whisper now. “If every other part of my life changed tomorrow …” The city lights blurred behind him. “If music disappeared, if every plan fell apart, if nothing happened the way I expected.” He shook his head.

“I’d still choose you.”

The words landed softly. Yet somehow felt enormous.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Suddenly you felt tears stinging in your eyes and his gaze immediately softened. “Oh my god, please don’t cry”, he pleaded. A tear escaped and he was quick to gently wipe your eyes, which made you laugh. He was so close, you could feel his breath fanning over your skin. His unique scent that you would recognize out of a million. The soft and warm skin of his fingers that now quietly caressed your cheeks.

“I am sorry”, you whimpered, shaking your head, trying to calm down. “I didn’t want to make this about me, oh gosh”, you were embarrassed, trying to shake off that eerie feeling. “It just caught me off guard”, you added and took a deep breath. He just looked at you. Stared at you in awe. Not believing that you were sitting in front of him. His dream. That one thing that he was so sure about in life. That one thing he would never exchange for anything in the world.

“I love you”, he whispered, his voice almost breaking, like he just said something so sacred, even though he reminded you of that every day. But right now it felt like the weight of those three words felt so much more. He was so open, he let himself be fragile with you, because he knew he was safe with you. His feelings were safe with you. He knew that you would catch him if he fell. You would be his anchor. Just like he was yours.

The music continued quietly around you and you let out a huffed laugh while you leaned your forehead against his. “And I love you, Han Jisung. So much, it scares me sometimes”, you whispered and closed your eyes, taking in the moment.    

Even though your eyes were closed, you knew that the biggest smile was plastered on his face. He nuzzled his forehead against yours, before capturing your lips in a kiss. It was a soft kiss. Just a press, but it held so many emotions.

“Now I feel bad, that I made you cry”, he interrupted the silence and you laughed loudly before pulling away from him. You looked at him and he seemed more at ease now. Seeing him like that now, made you want to cry even more, because you were just happy to see him like this, but you pulled yourself together and patted yourself lightly on your cheeks.

“It’s okay, it was because of a beautiful thing”, you reassured him squeezed your hand gently. He puckered his lips, thinking about something.

“So if I offered you some ice cream as redemption you’d decline?”

Your eyes widened and you playfully swatted his hand. “That’s not what I said!”

He laughed loudly and started the car. “I can’t with you.”

After you stopped at the next gas station to get some ice cream and snacks you were now parked in front of a field – covered in magnificent flowers of different kinds. The wind played with the blooms, giving the impression they were dancing. The windows were rolled down, you could even smell it.

Eating your ice cream, you let your head fall back against the seat and looked up at the stars. “Beautiful”, you said dramatically. Han followed your gaze. “Where?”

“The stars.”

“Which stars? There are like three.”

You gasped. “There are at least seven.”

He squinted through the windshield. “… I’ll give you five.”

You pointed your spoon at him. “Ugh, shut up, meanie.”

He looked around the field. At the flowers swaying gently in the breeze. The moon hanging above the horizon.

Then he held up his melting chocolate ice cream. “I bought you ice cream at two in the morning.”

You exhaled softly. “Ok I take the meanie part back.”

“Thank you.”

You grinned and took another bite. The cold sweetness instantly made you happier. Han watched you for a moment, then smiled to himself.

“What?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

He immediately looked away. “I’m not.”

“You are.”

He sighed dramatically. “You do this thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“When you eat something you really like.”

“Huh?”

Han mimicked you. Taking an imaginary spoon, closing his eyes, making an exaggerated happy expression, hen humming. A very specific hum.

You stared at him in horror. Because he was completely right. “Oh my god. Do I really do that?”

“Every time.”

You covered your face. “This is humiliating.”

“It’s adorable.”

“It’s humiliating”, you repeated and he laughed so hard he nearly dropped his ice cream, which only made you laugh too.

For the first time that night, the heavy conversation felt far away. Not forgotten, but lighter.

“And”, he started again and you looked at him in fear. “What?”

“You wiggle, when you’re excited.” You blinked. “I don’t.”

Without saying anything, he demonstrated it immediately. A tiny shoulder wiggle. An embarrassingly accurate imitation. “You do that every time we order food.”

“Oh my god.” He laughed again, took the last bite of his ice cream. “Finish your ice cream, it’s melting.” You looked at your ice cream, that now started dripping down your fingers and you were quick to lick everything up. Soon you finished it, still mortified of his observations.

Now he looked at you again, but with a strange smile. A specific strange smile. The troublemaker smile. The smile that always meant bad ideas. “Oh my god, what are you thinking about now?”

His grin widened as he pointed toward the flower field.

“Race me?”

You stared at him. “What?”

“To that tree.”

You looked outside. The tree in question was at least fifty meters away, in complete darkness.

“Han, you are going to pull a muscle.”

“I won’t.”

“You made a noise standing up yesterday.”

“That was unrelated.”

He was already opening the driver’s door. You groaned. “I can’t believe it.”

He stepped outside and stretched dramatically. “Come on or are you scared?”

You immediately shoved your door open. “No.”

His grin became impossibly wider. “That’s what I thought.” You climbed out of the car and you found the tree stood in the distance. Han pointed.

“Ready?”

“No.”

“Perfect.”

Then he took off running before you could finish complaining.

“Hey, I thought you would count?!”, you screamed as his laughter echoed across the field. It took you a few seconds before you sprinted after him. No way were you letting him win after that. “Oh you’re dead!”, you yelled after him and he laughed harder. “Come catch me then!”

The flowers blurred around you and the grass felt soft beneath your shoes. And despite your threats, you couldn’t stop laughing. Because Han was running like a complete idiot. Arms flailing, hair bouncing, absolutely zero dignity.

You nearly ripped because you were laughing too hard. He glanced over his shoulder and saw exactly how close you were and immediately sped up. You pushed yourself faster, closing the distance. He looked over his shoulder again.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

“Baby.”

“Too late.”

“Let’s discuss this.”

“We are.”

“No, we’re not.”

You lunged dramatically toward him and your fingertips brushed the back of his shirt. You grabbed his arm triumphantly. “I WIN!”

The declaration echoed across the field and Han stumbled theatrically.

“No.”

“YES.”

“No.”

“ABSOLUTELY!”

You grabbed both sides of his face. “Who won?” His smile was impossible to hide. You narrowed your eyes. “Han.”

“Fine.” He laughed. “You.”

“Damn right.”

You released him triumphantly. Only then realizing how suspiciously easy that had been. You narrowed your eyes again. “Wait. You let me win.”

“What?”

“You let me win.”

“No, I did not.”

“Han, you slowed down, I noticed that!”

“I got tired. I am twenty five years old.” You stared at him. He stared back. Trying desperately not to smile. “Ugh Han, that’s not fair.”

“What even is fairness?”, he suddenly asked and reached for your hand, clearly trying to distract you. The words got caught in your throat while his fingers intertwined with yours. His thumb brushed gently across your knuckles, like he did earlier in the car and he stopped closer, closing the small distance between you. “Come here.”

Before you could respond, his arms wrapped around your waist and he buried his face against your shoulder. You smiled and wrapped your arms around him. “Do you want another race? But like fair now?”, you asked quietly.

He theatrically grabbed the back of his high, hissing. “Ohhh no, I can’t. I think I pulled a muscle.”

[chantasticverse]

Hyunjin: After Midnight - 02:41 am

Summary: Hyunjin starts overthinking while you two are waiting out a storm in a convenience store and admits he's scared of how quickly good moments become memories. He worries about forgetting nights like this and one day only being able to remember the people he loves instead of being with them. You talk him through it, trying to ease his fears.

Word count: 3k Warnings: Emotional vulnerability, Anxiety/overthinking

The clock on the wall showed 02:41 am.

The only sound that could be heard was the soft tapping of rain against the windows and the quiet buzzing of the refrigerator. The lights inside the convenience store flickered, a consequence of the ongoing storm outside, that blurred the city beyond you.

You looked for shelter in that convenience store, waiting for the storm to calm down a bit so you could head home. Apart from the girl at the checkout, you were the only ones.

Now you sat on the floor beside the refrigerator, backs against a shelf full of instant noodles and potato chips. Every few seconds lightening flashed through the windows and turned everything white.

You rubbed your hands together, the cold air in the store engulfing you in an uncomfortable coldness.

“Are you cold?”

Hyunjin looked over to you.

“Yeah, a bit.”

Without saying anything, he reached for your wrist and guided you closer. His coat was oversized and dark, hanging loose around his shoulders. He slipped your hand into one of his pockets and held it there.

The immediate warmth this gesture provided you with made your shoulders relax. You sank into his side, your fingers intertwining automatically. Your chin now on his shoulder, you looked up at him, so close you could feel his warm breath meeting your face. “You think you got some spare room for my second hand?”

The corners of his mouth shot upwards while he leaned his forehead on yours, softly bonking you. “Always for you”, he whispered, blindly reaching for your other hand and slipped it into his pocket as well.

Thunder rolled across the sky again, illuminating the store in white lighting.

“Do you think this is going to end soon? I am actually really craving my bed now”, you mumbled and closed your eyes. Next you felt his lips against your forehead, lingering there for a few seconds. “I think it’s going to take a while. It looks like the world is ending actually”, he muttered lowly against your skin, tightening his grip around your hands.

“Buhu”, you exhaled and shifted a bit, so you could lean your head on his shoulder, gently nudging his fingers in his pocket. He leaned his against yours as well. The night stretched around you.

You checked the time again.

2:41.

2:42.

2:43.

The numbers changed, a small thing happening. Yet you could feel how his body tensed up, you noticed immediately. You squeezed his fingers slowly. “Something on your mind?”, you whispered into the quietness.

He shifted a bit, exhaling shakily. But not a single word slipped out of his mouth, so you lifted your head to look into his face. There was something sad about it. He was overthinking again.

“Hey”, you tried again, nudging his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head, avoiding eye contact now. “Nothing, it’s stupid.” You removed your hand out of his grip, warmed up enough and softly rubbed his chest up and down. You knew when he was overthinking that it helped him to ground himself. “It’s not stupid, if it clearly occupies your thoughts like that.”

He hesitated. Then looked toward the ceiling lights, the refrigerators, the aisles. Anywhere except you.

Then he finally said it. “Time.”

You blinked in confusion. “Time?” He nodded. Your movements on his chest slowed down as you watched him. Giving him time to explain what he exactly meant. You weren’t going to push him, but it was clear that he wanted to let go of something.

“I hate it sometimes”, he finally continued.

“What exactly?”

“How fast everything disappears.”

His voice barely rose above the hum of the refrigerators. “I feel like every good moment lasts five seconds.” He stared at the floor. “And every bad year lasts forever.” The words hung between you. It was heavy, honest and raw.

Then your hand wandered to his cheek, softly stroking it. He continued. “I keep thinking about things that already happened.”

“Like what?”

“Everything.”

A quiet laugh escaped him. “The first time we met. The first movie we watched. The first time you fell asleep at my place. The first time we woke up together for the first time.”

His gaze drifted toward the rain. “Every time I remember something, it feels impossible that it happened so long ago.” And you knew immediately what he meant. The strange grief hidden inside happiness. The sadness of knowing something beautiful existed only once.

He exhaled slowly. “Sometimes I wish nights could just stop.” His eyes remained fixed on the storm. “I wish there was a way to stay inside moments.” Another flash of lightning. White light filled the store, then vanished. He smiled weakly.

“Like this.”

“This?”

“Yeah.”

He gestured vaguely around you. “The storm, the empty store. Us just being us. You stealing all my body heat.”

You laughed and his smile widened slightly. Then faded again. “One day this will just be another memory.” His voice sounded distant now. “One day we’ll barely remember the details. The songs that were playing. The smell of the rain. What we talked about.”

He covered your hand on his cheek now with his own, the grip now tightening. “And I hate that.” The confession felt larger than the words themselves. You understood, of course you did. Because you had seen it before.

The way he held onto things. Concert tickets. Receipts. Photos. Voicemails. Little pieces of time. As if collecting enough fragments could somehow stop the years from moving. But they always moved. They always would, you had now power to stop that. No one did.

Then you rested your cheek against his shoulder. “We’re literally making a memory right now.”

He glanced down.

“You’re worried about forgetting this moment, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“While you’re still inside it.”

“I can’t help it”, he admitted softly.

“Hm, your head is trapping you. We’re here now. We’re together. We’re okay in this very moment”, you whispered.

For a while neither of you spoke. The storm continued its endless drumming against the windows. Water streamed down the glass in crooked lines, distorting the orange streetlights outside until they looked like melted stars. Somewhere in the back of the store a machine clicked and hummed to life, then fell silent again.

Hyunjin stared ahead, listening. You could practically hear the gears turning inside his head. His thumb slowly brushed across the back of your hand. “I know”, he finally said. “I know you’re right.”

“But?”

“But knowing something and feeling it are different things”

You nudged his shoulder with yours. “That’ annoyingly true.” Then you poked his side.

“See?”

“Don’t agree with me. I am trying to be wise.”

A soft laugh escaped him, making his eyes crinkle.

Then you said. “Can I tell you something?”

“Always.”

“I don’t remember every detail.” His eyebrows lifted. “Of what?”

“The first time we met.” A look of betrayal crossed his face. “Wow.”

“Listen.”

“You forgot our first meeting?”

“I didn’t forget.”

“You literally just said-“

“Let me finish.”

He crossed his arms dramatically and you rolled your eyes. “Anyway. I don’t remember everything.” His eyes shot to you, looking at you expectingly. “But I remember how I felt.”

The teasing disappeared from his face. You continued quietly. “I don’t remember what everyone else was wearing. I don’t remember every word we said. But I remember going home and thinking about you.”

His gaze softened immediately.

“I remember smiling for no reason. I remember being excited whenever my phone buzzed. I remember feeling safe around you.” Your fingers intertwined with his again and a tiny smile appeared on his lips. Silence settled between you.

“That’s what stays”, you said softly.

“The feeling?”

You nodded. “The details fade eventually. But the important parts don’t.”

His eyes lowered to your intertwined hands and a thoughtful expression crossed his face.

“I never thought about it like that.”

“Because you’re busy collecting receipts.”

“That receipt was important.”

“It was from the gas station.”

“OUR gas station.”

You laughed, he too. For the first time in several minutes he looked genuinely amused. You leaned against him again. The oversized coat rustled as he shifted closer. His shoulder was warm beneath your cheek and you closed your eyes.

“Nevertheless, can I ask you something?”, he murmured.

“Mhm.”

“Are you ever scared of losing someone?”

You opened your eyes again. The question wasn’t unexpected, yet it still settled heavily inside your chest. Because everyone was scared of that. Some just hid it better.

“Of course”, you answered honestly. His fingers tightened slightly around yours.

“Really?”

You took a deep breath. “I think everyone is scared of losing people.”

The fluorescent lights flickered again overhead.

“You?”

“Especially me.”

“Why?”

You looked toward the windows. Because explaining it suddenly felt difficult. Not because you didn’t know the answer. Because there were too many answers. “Because people become part of your life without asking for permission.” His expression turned thoughtful again. “You spend enough time with someone and they start existing everywhere.”

He listened carefully. “In routines, in songs, in places.” Your gaze drifted toward the coffee machine near the entrance. “Then one day you realize certain things only exist because they’re there.” His eyes remained fixed on you.

“It’s the little things. Like their jokes, their habits, the random conversations. The way the make coffee.” You paused for a second. “By the way you make terrible coffee.”

He tsked, looking away, but you definitely saw that faint smirk on his face. “Did you really have to bring that up?”

“You’ll survive.”

“Barely.”

You laughed quietly, then your voice softened again. “But that’s exactly why people matter.” The amusement faded from his face.

“Because they change the shape of your life.”

Hyunjin stared ahead for several seconds. “I think that’s what scared me.”

“People changing things?”

“No.” His thumb brushed across your knuckles again. “The possibility that one day I’ll have to remember instead of experience.”

The words hit you straight in your head, because they were so painfully honest. Everyone eventually became a memory to someone. Every laugh, conversation, hug. One day all of it belonged to the best. And maybe that was terrifying. But maybe it was beautiful too.

“Can I tell you what I think?”

He nodded.

“I think memories exist because moments end.” His eyebrows knitted together slightly.

“If everything lasted forever, nothing would feel important anymore.”

He considered tht. “Maybe.”

“No, seriously.”

You nudged him. “If every sunset lasted twelve hours nobody would care. If birthdays happened every week they wouldn’t matter as much. If this storm lasted six months we’d both lose our minds. Things matter because they end.”

His expression softened. “You sound so wise and smart”, he murmured and you lightly boxed his arm. “Why does it surprise you? Do you think I am not wise and smart all the time? Do you think I am only wise and smart at 3 am?”

He laughed now loudly – so loud that even the cashier glanced over before returning to her phone – and put his arm around your shoulder and pulled you against him. “You are the smartest and wisest woman on his planet. In this whole galaxy even.”

“That’s it”, you agreed and cuddled into him. Then he spoke again. “How do you do that? Stay present?”, he asked suddenly.

You blinked. “I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No.”

“You really do.”

You thought about it. Maybe from the outside it looked that way, but that didn’t mean you never struggled. “I get scared too, believe me.” A pause followed. “Especially about the future.” You squeezed his hand. “I just don’t like spending today’s happiness worrying about tomorrow’s sadness.”

The sentence hung in the air. It was simple but somehow true.

Then Hyunjin smiled slowly. “That kind of puts everything into a different perspective.”

Time continued moving, it was unstoppable. The thing Hyunjin feared so much. Yet somehow it didn’t feel quite as cruel now. Maybe because he wasn’t fighting it at the moment, but rather embracing it. Rather enjoying this very moment, instead of worrying what could happen tomorrow.

Outside the rain finally seemed weaker, the drops no longer slammed against the glass. Instead they fell gently and steadily. Like the storm was growing tired.

“Hey”, Hyunjin whispered.

“Yeah?”

“If this becomes a memory someday …”

You looked up.

His eyes reflected the lights above. “I hope I remember this part.”

“Which part?”

His smile was small, but genuine. “This.”

You tilted your head. “Very specific.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I actually don’t.”

He groaned. “The feeling.”

“Oh.”

He nodded.

“The feeling of being here. With you.”

Your chest warmed instantly, more than his coat. You leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “There.”

“There what?”

“Now you’ll definitely remember.”

He laughed softly. His gaze was now fixed on the windows again – the rain had completely stopped now. He affectionately nudged his knee against yours, pointing his chin to the exit. “The storm stopped, we should head home, you look exhausted”, he teased and got up on his feet, reaching out his hand for you to grab it.

You nodded and grabbed his hand, letting him pull you up.

Once you stepped outside you could immediately feel the coldness the storm had brought. It was still windy, the streets were wet and the smell of rain still lingered in the air – the latter was kind of comforting to you. “You ready?”, Hyunjin asked, once again reaching out his hand to you, which you gladly took. He softly squeezed it and pulled you with him.

The silence between the two of you wasn’t uncomfortable, it was the exact opposite. After your conversation in the convenience store you felt like you had another glimpse of him. Like you just got to know him all over again. No words were needed in the moment and it was okay.

After a while you got even slower, the tiredness clearly catching up on you, which didn’t go unnoticed by him. “Hey, we’re almost there”, he softly cooed, but it didn’t help. You could’ve fallen asleep right on the spot. Then a thought popped up.

Without saying another word, he stopped in front of you, slightly crouching.

“Hyunjin, what the hell are you doing?”

He turned his head to you, looking at you with a mischievous grin. “Hop on.”

“I can walk perfectly fine by myse-“, you started but got interrupted by a yawn. Tears filled your eyes, temporarily blurring the sight in front of you. As soon as it cleared again, you found Hyunjin staring at with an even bigger grin now. You rolled your eyes.

“Fine”, you murmured and cautiously jumped on his bag. He caught you easily and straightened up again. The movement jolted a small alugh out of you as you adjusted your grip around his shoulders.

“There”, he said triumphantly. “Much better.” You rested your chin on his shoulder and closed your eyes, because you couldn’t help it. The streets were so quiet now, a cool breeze brushed against your cheeks and you immediately sought for some warmth by nuzzling your face into his neck.

His footsteps remained steady beneath you. From time to time you opened your eyes occasionally, watching the city drift by from your slightly elevated position.

“Comfortable?”, he asked after some time and you nodded. “You make a great pillow.” He softly laughed under his breath and adjusted his grip around you. You turned onto a quieter street lined with trees. Their leaves rustled softly overhead, creating shifting shadows across the pavement. Somewhere nearby, music drifted from an open window before fading into night again.

You really almost fell asleep when a sudden sharp movement snapped you out of your almost-trance. His foot caught on an uneven section of the pavement and the world suddenly tilted. Your stomach dropped as Hyunjin stumbled forward, arms instinctively tightening around your legs. For one second, it genuinely felt like both of you were about to crash face first into the sidewalk.

“HYUNJIN!”

“I GOT IT!”

“NO YOU DON’T!”

“YES I DO!”

He somehow managed to hop awkwardly on one foot before finally regaining his balance. You froze. Both of you.

Hyunjin slowly straightened. You slowly lifted your head from his shoulder.

“Did we almost die?”

“No.”

“We were two seconds away from scrabbing our faces on the pavement.”

“You exaggerate.”

“You literally screamed.”

“I did not.”

“Hmm, so the sound you left out was just your normal Hyunjin voice, when everything is ‘cool’?”

“Yeah.”

You stared at the side of his face.

Then a laugh escaped you. Hyunjin groaned. “Don’t laugh, that was terrifying.”

“Oh, now it was terrifying?”

“I was the one responsible for not dropping you!”

“You were the reason I was almost dropped!”

His offended gasp echoed down the empty street. You were still laughing when he started walking again, muttering complaints under his breath. A few moments later he shook his head dramatically.

“Oh yeah”, he said. “That’s definitely a moment that you remember for your lifetime. I won’t ever forget that feeling.”

You frowned. “What feeling? Of me almost breaking my neck and having a heart attack?”

Hyunjin barked out a laugh. “No, my love.”

“Then what?”

“The feeling of witnessing my incredible recovery skills.”

You exhaled loudly. “At least there was something positive about it. I think I shat my pants.”

Hyunjin stopped in his tracks going completely silent. “Did you really?” You gently hit his shoulder. “Pabo, of course not.” He laughed and continued walking toward your apartment. Right before you arrived the front door, he stopped again, affectionately squeezing your legs. “Thank you for tonight. It really helped me. I am going to try to view this from a different perspective, because you’re right. What matters is, what is now. We don’t have any power over the future. Some stuff just happens, that you have no control over, but you can make the most of what you have right now.”

A smile tugged at your lips, as you pressed a kiss on his cheek, proudly pat his shoulder. “Exactly.”

[chantasticverse]

One Shot: The Aftershow (+18)

Disclaimer: All content on this blog is fictional. Any characters, scenarios, or portrayals of real people are created for storytelling and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended to represent real events, real personalities, or factual information about the individuals mentioned.

First smut, kinda nervous 👀 - but after seeing Chris at the GovBall I couldn't help it.

MDNI!!

Summary: After seeing Chris performing at the GovBall, he got you pretty worked up as he knew exactly what he was doing. So back in the hotel room you decided to let him know how much he really got you worked up.

Word count: 5,1k Warnings: smut, mild dirty talk, titplay, oral receiving (f), penetrative sex, use of good girl / good boy, praise, cum eating, aftercare, some swearing, choking

Pic is from GovBall's Instagram

Leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom in your hotelroom in New York City, your arms folded loosely across your chest, you watched him in silence. The two of you had only been back  from the GovBall-festival for about an hour. The lingering scent of his shower still hung in the air, mixing with the faint trace of his cologne. Freshly dressed, with droplets of water still clinging to the light strands of his hair, he looked unfairly good – so distractingly good that it was almost irritating.

Completely unaware of the effect he had on you, he stood in front of the open wardrobe, one hand resting against the door while his gaze moved over the neatly hung clothes. Every now and then, he would pull out a shirt or jacket, examine it for a second, then place it somewhere else, determined to bring some sort of order to the mess.

And while he seemed focused on the simple task of sorting through his clothes, you couldn’t stop staring at him. At the damp hair falling into his eyes, at the way his sleeves stretched across his arms, at how effortlessly he filled the room with his presence.

Only then he noticed you, goggling at him and he shot you a sweet smile. Gosh, was there anything about him, that was not perfect?

“Hey, baby, you’ve been standing there for a while?”, he asked, reaching his hand out for you to take it. And as if there was some sort of gravitational pull you slowly approached him and put your hand in his, which he lightly squeezed. “You okay?”, he asked.

You just looked at him. His eyes, that looked at you like the sun itself was standing in front of him. His lips, that were drawn into the most devastatingly beautiful smile. Then your eyes found his broad shoulders and you felt yourself unintentionally wetting your lips.

He had become so buff over the last couple of months. His shirt was practically clinging to his shoulders. His pecs were visible through the fabric of his shirt, so freaking visible you were about to suggest him that he could borrow one of your bras. And his arms. His arms that were so tempting to bite into.

Yes, you were at the festival as well. In the section reserved for families and friends. Yes you saw the incredible performance the boys put on. And yes you saw how hot your hot boyfriend looked on stage – being all wet by the rain, his hair damp, the bicep chain that looked too tight on his arm and the way he said goodbye at the end to the fans. Yes, when he walked toward the camera and indicated to take his shirt off, giving a glimpse of his toned torso only then to pull the shirt down again.

“Baby?”, his finger found your chin, lifting your face to draw the attention to his face again. “Hmm?”, you hummed, trying to focus, but it was difficult with him standing right in front of you looking like this. Even though you had been together for a couple of years already, you never got used to him. You still got distracted and shy around him, but who could blame you?

“Are you okay?”, he asked again, but this time there was something taunting in his voice. He knew exactly what he was doing to you. The fact that you were ovulating didn’t help at all. The sound of his voice hit you hard in the core. The tension had thickened so much in the last couple of seconds.

You exhaled loudly and slowly put your hand on his chest. His gaze followed your hand, that now drew circles across his still clothed chest. “You’ve been working out a lot”, you whispered, your eyes never losing his face and his eyes quickly shot to yours. You could feel his heartbeat speeding up under your palm and you smiled softly at his reaction.

“I have”, he replied quietly. “Hm”, you hummed and slowly started to push him backwards. His feet automatically moved, his gaze stayed glued on you while you pushed him toward the bed, until the back of his knees hit the edge and he tumbled onto the soft comforter.

Towering over him you placed your hands on his shoulders, squeezing them. His muscles were so present beneath your fingertips and you tilted your head slightly. He stayed quiet the whole time, anticipation rising. Then you finally spoke up.

“Do you have any idea, what you do to me?”, you whispered slowly and you could feel his big hands on the back of your thighs, moving them up and down over your naked skin. Even tho you were wearing a skirt, the temperature in the room kept rising.

His fingertips ghosted over your skin, barely touching you, but it still made you press your thighs together, which caused him to smirk and you were done with him. You were done with him acting up like that on stage, making you all worked up and acting all innocent as soon as he came home.

You now slid your index finger over the dip of his shoulder, mindlessly caressing the skin there. One of your favorite parts on him.

“You act like that on stage today, knowing exactly I was in the crowd as well. Knowing exactly what you’re doing to me. And then you come home and smile into my face, like you didn’t do anything? Little shit you are”, you continued and his breath caught. He knew that tone in your voice.

“I-“, he started, but you quickly shut him up by pressing your finger on his lips. You leaned down, your lips now ghosting over his and you could feel him lean forward to capture them in a kiss, but you quickly backed up. “No, baby”, you smiled. “You think you deserve a kiss just like that? After that stunt you pulled? Sorry, that you pull all the time?”, you whispered and moved to his ear. “You’e gonna have to work for it, baby.”

Not more than a whisper.

You slowly detached yourself from him, your eyes never leaving his and sat down next to him. His lips were slightly open, not believing what was happening in front of him.

Then he slowly moved off the bed, his eyes not leaving yours and knelt in front of you.

Although it was silent, your eyes communicated with each other. Anticipation, lust, desire.

He slowly grabbed your leg, putting it over your shoulder and you leaned back. Your palms now pressed on the soft comforter, while you looked at each other. He leaned his head to the side, pressing little kisses on your thigh, all while still maintaining eye contact with you.

You moved your feet to the little dip on his shoulder. “Hmm, my beloved ankle holder.” He looked up at you with those dark eyes, like he was willing to give you everything he had to offer.

“Yeah I can tell you’ve been working out a lot lately”, you repeated, pulling him even closer to you with your foot. His hands quickly found your hips, grabbing them firmly. You slowly slid your ankles on his shoulders, feeling the muscles moving underneath. “I can feel it. You’ve been working so hard, weren’t you?” You leaned forward, your hands now finding his jaw, grabbing it firmly. His eyes never left yours. His tongue darted out, wetting his lips slowly.

He was so close now, that you could feel his breath hitting your core. You let out a struggled breath, leaning even closer, so you were face to face with him. “You’ve been such a good boy, hm?” His breath now met your lips – you were so desperate to feel him.

“Gosh baby”, his voice was shaking, he was trying so desperately to keep it together. But the way you were spread out in front of him, made it so incredibly hard. “Please let me touch you”, he whispered against you. “Please let me make you feel good”, he whimpered and let his forehead fall onto your knee. His hand wandered from your hip to the side of your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.

He was almost at his breaking point, but you still wanted to push him further. Your finger found his chin and you forced him to look at you again. His pupils were so big, you could barely see the color of his iris. You gently stroked his jaw, feeling the soft stubbles against your fingertips.

You decided to give him a little taste, so you softly pressed your lips on his plush ones. You could feel him relax into this kiss and his hand now fully squeezed your knee to ground himself. He deepened the kiss, his tongue now inserting into your mouth and a choked moan escaped your throat. He possessively bit your lower lip, tugging at it and he couldn’t hold it anymore. He got up on his feet and pushed your body back, now hovering over you.

He placed his knee in between your thighs, the fabric of his pants now brushing against your middle. “Chris”, you whimpered, your hands pulling his hair, which earned you a moan from his side. “I’ve been such a good boy, right?”, he repeated your words from earlier. “Don’t you think I deserve that reward now?”, he added lowly and broke the kiss just to put his lips on your throat. His tongue left a wet trail as it moved down your skin, alternating between licks and sucks. You could feel him everywhere.

Your hips buckled and you couldn’t help but start grinding against his clothed leg. “Yes, baby. You’ve been so good. Fuck”, now you were the one whose voice was shaking, when his lips met your neck, sucking on your skin. You clenched your legs even more, keeping him trapped between your thighs and pulled him even closer.

You could feel him hardening against you and your eyes met the back of your head, when he started grinding into you as well. You slid your shaky hands under his shirt, feeling the muscles on his stomach flexing at your touches. “Hmm, I love it”, you mumbled and pushed the fabric up. He knew immediately and helped you taking it off.

There he was. Sitting in front of you, his hands now resting on your knees, shirtless. He looked like god himself sculpted him. His lips were swollen, his hair a mess, his eyes wild.

“Look at you”, he cooed, tiling his head and slowly moving his hands up and down your thighs – soaking in the view in front of him. “You’re the most beautiful person I ever laid my eyes on”, he whispered softly, in complete contrast to his attack on you earlier. A smile tugged on your lips and you sat up, your fingers brushing his abdomen now.

Your lips met his skin there and he hissed quietly, while your tongue traced lines across his v-line. Then you switched to open mouth kisses and you felt his hands now on the back of your head, keeping you gently in place. His fingers softly massaged your skin as you pressed a final kiss on his skin. “Come here, baby”, you cooed and grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled him down to kiss him again.

He softly hummed into your mouth and gently pushed you on the bed, hovering over you now. He leaned on his forearms, careful not to crush you, but all you wanted was to feel him properly, so desperate for it. Your fingers scratched across his back and his skin was now burning under your touch. A soft whimper escaped him, while his lips left yours and moved on to your neck.

You let out a quiet moan, pushing his head closer to you and you felt how he pressed harder into you. His teeth now grazed your skin there and you opened your legs even more, welcoming him. “Chris”, you whimpered, wanting more and his hand now moved to your stomach, dangerously close to the waistband of your skirt. While he continued assaulting your neck, his hand slowly started unbuttoning your blouse. Starting off with the bottom button, his fingers now gazing your navel. You arched your back off the bed, barely composing yourself, when he was touching you like that.

“Shh, I got you”, he whispered and the way his raspy voice said that, made you clench your thighs around him and you could feel his shit eating grin against your skin. “My baby is so impatient today, huh?”, he taunted and opened the next button – with one hand.

He now changed his direction, moving on to the other side of your neck and only now you felt how sore your skin now felt. He stopped for a second, his mouth now hovering over your ear now. “You like that, huh? You like, when I touch you like that?” The next button was opened, revealing your lace bra now.

“Please”, you whimpered, so desperate for him and he chuckled, taking your earlobe gently between his teeth. “Please what?”, he whispered and finally opened the last button, leaving you exposed to him.

He firmly grabbed your chin, forcing you to look at him now. His eyes were so dark, so full of determination now. You let out a shaky breath, that look on his face literally made you weak. If you weren’t already laying, your knees probably would have already given in.

“Please touch me”, you whispered. His gaze stayed glued on you, but at the same moment you felt his flat hand sliding across your stomach until it reached your throat. His big hand clasped around your throat and he applied light pressure to it. Not enough to cut off your airflow, but enough to make you lightheaded. His thumb brushed over the front of your throat and he cocked his head to the side, watching your reaction.

The air got thicker and you couldn’t help but let out a quiet moan, because it just felt so damn good. Chris hummed in satisfaction, but still made sure to watch you in case you felt uncomfortable. He leaned closer to your lips, his breath now meeting your skin. “Does it feel good?”

Your eyes rolled back and you nodded frantically. “Yes”, you breathed out and he quickly grabbed your face again. “Hey, look at me.” Your eyes quickly found his again and you felt how his hand now moved lower to your chest, softly grabbing your left breast as his thumb brushed against your hardening nipple, still covered by your bra.

The fact that he kept staring at your face, made it even hotter. He literally consumed every tiny reaction from you, it was like every single touch was calculated. His biggest priority was your pleasure.

“I have to admit something”, he whispered and lowered his mouth to your chest. “When I was on stage it was my pure intention to get you worked up”, he whispered, his breath meeting your sensitive skin. “Guess it worked”, he chuckled, before he captured your nipple through the fabric, slightly sucking it into his mouth.

A quiet whimper left your mouth as you arched into his touch and it just encouraged him even more. “I…”, you started and grabbed the side of his head, pressing him more into you. “I knew it”, you breathed out and he chuckled lowly.

His hand snaked around your back and quickly found the clasp of your bra, expertly opening it and removing it off your body.  He looked at you hungrily, both of his hands now kneading your breasts, while he left a soft kiss on your lips. “You truly are the most beautiful woman on earth”, he cooed against your lips and lowered his head again now to suck one of your nipples into his mouth – this time without any barrier.

His tongue twirled around you and this time a loud moan escaped your mouth. “Chris”, you sobbed, and pulled on his hair, which made him even more eager to please you. He lightly bit you and you twitched against him. His free hand kept your hip in place as you tried to move beneath him. “Patience, baby”, he whispered and moved on to the other nipple, giving it the same attention now.

His mouth moved lower over our stomach, leaving kisses on every inch of your skin. He spent some extra time on your navel, clearly messing with you. Your hands found his shoulders as you were holding onto dear life to survive this. “Please, I can’t …”, you breathed out. Him being so close to where you needed him the most, was too much to handle.

A quiet laugh escaped him, warm and amused, as he finally lifted his head to look at you. There was something almost unfair about the way his eyes met yours – knowing, affectionate, entire aware of the effect he had on you.

His eyes stayed on you, as he slid his hands under your butt, gently urging you to lift your hips, which you obediently did. He slowly slid off your skirt – together with your panties. When his warm breath hit your skin, you subconsciously tried to clench your thighs, but he quickly laid his hands on your inner thighs, keeping them spread.

He tsked, turning his head to the side and started leaving little kisses on your inner thighs. When he got close to your core, you bucked your hips forward but he just switched sides and kissed your other thigh.

You whimpered, feeling the heat getting more and more intense. “Chris, I swear, if-“, before you could finish your sentence he finally pressed his lips on your core and you let out a loud moan. You quickly squeezed your legs around his head, while he dived in like a starving man. His tongue moved flatly on your clit, sucking in your nub between his lips. “So fucking delicious”, he murmured, before moving on to your entrance and plunging his tongue in there. Your walls clenched around him and every time you bucked your hips against him, he was quick to pin you down with his forearm.

His eyes never left yours and you could’ve come from that view alone. He looked so drunk off you. And when he pushed the back of your thighs upward so your legs were pinned against your chest, he reached a new angle, that made you see stars. You were a moaning mess, trying to stifle it with the back of your hand, since you were in a hotel. When he noticed, one of his hands moved and he removed your hand from your mouth.

“I wanna hear you”, he breathed out, biting your bikini line affectionately. You yelped quietly and he let out a chuckle, before diving in again. He was relentless in the way he was basically attacking you, as the heat in your lower abdomen intensified.

“This”, suck, “is”, suck, “such”, suck, “a”, suck, “nice”, suck, “reward”, he whimpered before finally plunging a finger in your pussy, while his thumb drew circles on your clit. You welcomed him embarrassingly smooth and grabbed his free hand, trying to hold onto something. He quickly intertwined your fingers, giving you a reassuring squeeze.

He brought your legs back into the original position and laid them on his shoulders again, while speeding up his finger. He leaned his head against your thigh and left a kiss there. “You okay?” The contrast of his moving fingers and his soft voice almost gave you a whiplash.

You nodded frantically and he rewarded you with a soft smile. “Good.” Before you could even process what was happening, he added another finger and hit that spot, that made you clench your thighs around him. It felt so freaking good, so good that it didn’t take long until you felt how the high was building up. You clenched around his fingers and before you could feel the release he pulled his finger out, leaving you completely empty.

“What?”, you barely came back to your senses, when you looked at him. A shit eating grin was plastered on his face, while he inserted the fingers, that were just inside of you, inside his mouth, sucking them clean.

You were breathing heavily, trying to comprehend what just happened, but he was quick to pull down his own pants along with his underwear. His hard dick now resting against your entrance, painfully moving up and down your slit, coating him with your wetness.

The low whimper he let out almost made you lose your mind. He pushed in just a bit, only to bottom out immediately. You let out a frustrated grunt, grabbing his hands, that rested on your knees. “Please”, you begged for the millionth time this evening.

He grabbed both your hands and led them next to your head, pushing them into the pillow. “Always so impatient, my baby”, he whimpered against your lips while he pushed himself inside. Inch by inch, his eyes never leaving yours, watching for every tiny reaction from you. The more he pushed inside, the fuller you felt. He was moving so painfully slow, that you pushed yourself against him.

“Shit, you’re so tight”, he breathed out and finally started to move. After he bottomed out, he pushed inside you again – hard. The recoil moved your body upward, which earned him a satisfied moan. “Fuck, you feel so perfect around me”, his lips found yours as his thrusts became harder and more relentless.

He moved one hand from yours to your tit, twisting your nipple in an almost painful way. His head followed his hand, now ghosting over your bouncing breasts. “So fucking perfect for me”, sucked your right nipple into his mouth, while squeezing the other one with his free hand.

You freed your hand from his that was holding yours and grabbed the back of his head, pulling on his hair. “Chris, oh my-“, you started and threw your head against the pillow. His wet tongue now twirled around your left nipple, his hand now on your right one, twisting it.

“Gosh, I can feel you squeezing me. You’re so perfect”, he detached himself from your breast and buried his face into your neck. “If you keep squeezing me like that, I am not gonna last long.”

He licked a long stripe up your neck and you purposely squeezed around him, which caused him to stop in his tracks, his forehead now resting against your collarbone while still thrusting into you. “This your type of payback, huh?”, he taunted and chuckled against your skin before completely pulling out, leaving you all empty.

He threw you around, on your stomach with ease, before pulling your hips up and easing himself inside you again. It all happened so fast, you could barely process it. One hand wandered from your lower back up to the back of your neck – that touch being incredibly gentle, while he relentlessly fucked into you. You hid your face into the pillow, muffling your moans.

The hand that rested on the back of your neck now moved to the front and in one quick motion he pulled you to him, your back now against his chest. “Nah-uh”, he said, picking up his pace. “Let me hear you”, his words were muffled against your neck as he lightly bit into your skin, while his hand still rested on your throat, gripping it tightly. He turned your head toward his, his lips ghosting over yours as his even got faster.

“You feel that, baby?”, his free hand now moved down, over your stomach to your clit, pressing his fingers against it. “You feel what you do to me?”, he continued and started drawing circles against you and you let your head fall against his shoulder, letting out a loud moan.

“Too- too much”, you stumbled over your words, when he started nibbling on your jawline. Your hand gripped the back of his neck when your eyes found his – so dark and full of desire. “You’re doing so great, baby”, he encouraged you and you felt how your climax was approaching again. You pulled him toward you, your lips crashing against his. “Gonna, gonna cum”, you whimpered and his movements got harder, hitting you just in the right spot.

“Then cum for me, be a good girl and cum for me”, he cheered you on and that did it. You came so hard, clenching around him and you felt how your knees gave in, but he held you there in place, while still thrusting into you, helping you ride out your orgasm. “I got you, baby, I got you”, he cooed and kissed you through it.

And then you felt him cum too. His release painting your walls, filling you up completely. His chocked moans muffled against your shoulders as he rode his own orgasm out. You held him close just like he did, your broken breaths meeting each other.

“Fuck”, he whimpered against your mouth, leaving a gentle kiss there, before letting go of you, so you gently fell forward. He was still inside you when his hands moved over your back squeezing you here and there. You tried to catch your breath, the evening got way more intense than expected.

Then he slowly pulled out, his release now dripping down your thighs and your breath hitched a bit. He looked at you like he was hypnotized – the sight in front of him almost made him come again. “So fucking perfect”, he whispered under his breath and leaned forward, licking his cum off your folds.

You flinched, still sensitive. Then he grabbed you– gently by your throat and pulled you flush against his chest again. His tongue found you as he let his cum drip into your mouth, which you greedily lapped up. He then gave you a gentle kiss, nuzzling his nose against yours. “Good girl”, he praised you quietly and wrapped his arms around your middle, pulling your back closer to his chest. Your fingers played with his hair as you playfully bit his chin. “Good boy”, you praised back and he softly chuckled against you, before gently pushing you forward onto the bed.

You turned around on your back, leaning on your elbows while looking up at him. He looked at you with those warm eyes that you fell in love with so deeply. Then he slowly started coming closer to you, hovering his body over yours. His hands found your cheeks, scanning your face. “You okay?”, he asked softly and caressed the apple of your cheek in an almost absentmindedly manner.

You placed your hands on his chest, moving them up and down, while you nodded quickly. “Never felt better”, you said and a proud smile tugged on his lips. “Okay”, he said quietly and noticed the goosebumps on your skin now. He grabbed a sweatshirt of his, that was laying on the floor, and quickly pulled it over your head. He pressed a soft kiss on your forehead. “I’ll be right back”, he mumbled against your skin and vanished into the bathroom.

You heard the sink running and he came back with a damp cloth, before kneeling in front of you. “Open up for me a bit, yeah?”, he said softly and you spread your legs. He moved the cloth over you and you hissed a bit, still sensitive. He looked up at you and pressed a gentle kiss on your knee. “I’m sorry”, he whispered and finished cleaning you up.

“You think you can walk to the bathroom to use the toilet?”, he put his hand on your knee, squeezing it in encouragement and you sat up. “You’re so sure you’ve broken me that I can’t walk anymore?”, you joked and just left the bed, trying to stand when your knees wobbled a bit and you winced.

You turned around to look at him and he looked at you – again with that shit eating grin. The deathly look you shot him, wiped the grin out of his face and he was in front of you in a matter of seconds. “Okay, I won’t bug you anymore tonight. Let me help you”, he chuckled and lifted you off your feet, carrying you to the bathroom.

Your head fell against his chest, his grip tight around you as he carried you over to the bathroom, seating you onto the toilet. “Think you can do that without me?”, he bent down to be on your eyelevel and looked at you in amusement. You lightly kicked against his shin. “Funny, tank top boy. Now get out of the bathroom, so I can pee in peace.”

He laughed loudly and turned around, about to leave the bathroom, until he stopped at the door and turned around again to face you. “Tank top boy?”

You motioned for him to leave, shushing him. “You heard me.”

He pouted slightly before he left the room and closed the door behind him.

After you used the toilette, you took a look at the mirror. Your cheeks were flushed, your lips swollen and your hair was a mess. Then you took a closer look to your neck, where you can already see some bruises forming. “This motherfucker”, you mumbled under your breath and started washing your face with some water. Then you looked into the mirror again. “Gosh, I look rough”, you continued and grabbed a brush to fix your hair, which you put into a messy bun. Then you put on some clean panties and as you were about to walk out the door, you winced again as you were still sore from him. “This motherfucker”, you repeated again and slowly made your way to the bedroom, where Chris was now sitting on the bed in some sweatpants – with no shirt on.

When he heard you approaching him, a soft smile appeared on his face and he lifted his hand to reach for you. You took it and he pulled you against him on the bed, seating you on his lap, his hands firmly grabbing your waist. “You good?” You yawned and he chuckled lowly while pulling you into his chest, his hand now cradling the back of your head. “You tired, baby?” You nodded against him and he let himself fall backwards on the bed, pulling the blanket over the two of you.

“Get some rest baby. I’ll be right here, when you wake up.”

[chantasticverse]

Changbin: After Midnight - 03:21 am

Summary: After coming home exhausted from a birthday party, you find Changbin sitting alone on the balcony unable to sleep. What starts as a quiet late-night conversation slowly turns into an emotional confession about fear of being replaced and struggling to separate self-worth from success.

Word count: 3k Warnings: emotional vulnerability, insecurity, fear of being replaced/forgotten, burnout, overworking, anxiety themes, insomnia, self-worth issues, exhaustion, mentions of pressure in the idol industry

By the time you got home, the city had already crossed into that strange hour where everything felt quieter but not fully asleep. The streets below the apartment building still glowed with scattered headlights and convenience store signs, but the loudness of the night had faded into something softer.

Your heels clicked tiredly against the hallway floor as you unlocked the apartment door. You were exhausted and just wanted to fall into bed.

The birthday party had gone on far longer than anyone planned – too much music, too many people talking over each other, too much pretending you still had energy left when your social battery had already died hours ago. No wonder at 03:21 am.

The second the apartment door shut behind you silence wrapped around you immediately. It was warm, dark and quiet.

You exhaled quietly, slipping your shoes off near the entrance before rubbing both hands over your face. You slowly entered the bedroom on your tiptoes to look after Bin, but you found the bed untouched – as if no one had ever laid in it.

You furrowed your eyebrows, wondering where he went off to. You left the bedroom, when you noticed the faint glow slipping through the curtains near the balcony door. You paused. The apartment heater hummed softly somewhere behind you while cold blue city light spilled across the floorboards ahead.

Then you walked toward it, without making any noise. And there he was.

Changbin sat outside on the balcony wrapped in a dark hoodie and one of the thicker blankets from the couch, elbows resting on his knees while the city stretched endlessly below him. His phone rested facedown beside him untouched.

He didn’t move much when you stepped closer. Just turned his head slightly at the sound of the balcony door opening. When he laid his eyes on you, his expression softened immediately.

“Hey”, he said quietly. The wind pushed cold air against your skin and you folded your arms instinctively. “Why are you sitting out here?”, you asked sleepily.

Changbin glanced back toward the skyline. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Something about the way he said it made your chest tighten slightly. He looked exhausted. The kind of exhaustion no sleep could fix.

“Any particular reason?” you asked quietly and he glanced at you. Without sayong another word he raised his hand toward you, signaling you to come closer. You did. His hand wrapped around yours, quickly pulling you on his lap and wrapping the blanket around you as well in the process. It happened so fast, you could barely register what just happened.

“You’re going to freeze”, he whispered, ignoring your initial question. You knew he didn’t want to talk about it, so you decided not to push him and just be there for him. Whatever occupied his mind, you would try to distract him from it.

You leaned back into him and felt immediately warmer, as a tired sigh escaped you. “My feet are officially never recovering from tonight”, you muttered.

You could feel him smile against your neck as he tightened his grip around you. “Bad party?”

“Not bad. Just too many people. I was slightly overstimulated.”

He hummed quietly, pressing his cheek against your shoulder. “You ok now?”

You nodded lazily against him. “Now that I am here, yeah.” That answer seemed to relax him a little. You rested your head against his shoulder and closed your eyes briefly. Changbin’s hoodie smelled just like him. Familiar. Comforting. Your almost could’ve fallen asleep right there if not for the tension still lingering in his body.

His leg bounced faintly beneath the blanket and his fingers tapped absentminded rhythms against your hip.

You noticed everything. Changbin always underestimated how obvious his exhaustion became around you.

“You’re been sitting out here long?”, you asked softly.

“A while.”

“How long is a while?”

He let out a quiet breath through his nose.

“Since midnight maybe.”

Your eyes opened immediately. “Bin.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.” You turned slightly on his lap to look at him properly. “When was the last time you actually slept more than five hours?”, you asked carefully. Changbin looked away almost instantly. “That’s not important.”

“That means you know the answer.”

A small smile pulled weakly at his lips, but it disappeared just as quickly. You studied him for a moment, before nuzzling your nose into his shoulder, engulfing him into a proper hug. His hands wandered around your back, pulling you closer. “Binnie, you’re exhausted”, you concluded lowly against his skin.

“I’m okay, baby”, he whispered weakly. “You always say that when you’re not okay.”

That made his shoulders tense slightly beneath your hands. The wind curled colder around the balcony and instinctively Changbin pulled the blanket higher around both of you. “You should go inside”, he murmured. “You’re cold and tired.”

“So are you.”

“I’ll sleep eventually.”

You stayed quiet for a moment before speaking again. “Did something happen today?”

He hesitated. Too long.

“Not really.”

“You’re such a terrible liar.”

That earned the faintest huff of laughter from him. “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.”

The silence settled again afterward, but this time heavier. You could feel him thinking. Feel the tension sitting beneath his skin like he was trying to decide whether to say something or bury it again. Eventually, quietly, he spoke.

“I saw something online earlier”, he admitted quietly. You waited. He swallowed once before continuing.

“There were clips from some rookie group going around.” Your brows furrowed slightly, not fully understanding yet. “They’re good”, he said quickly. “Like really good.”

You stayed silent, sending there was more. He laughed quietly under his breath. “Everyone was talking about how they’re the future.” The way he said future made something twist painfully inside your chest. “Bin-“

“I know how stupid it sounds.”

“It doesn’t.”

“It does”, he muttered. “I’m a grown man sitting on a balcony at 3AM because younger idols are talented.”

“That’s not why you’re upset.”

Silence.

“I think I’m scared people will move on eventually.”

The vulnerability in his voice nearly broke your heart. You stared at him for a second. “Move on?”

He nodded.

“New groups debut every year. New music. New trends. New people to pay attention to.” His jaw tightened slightly. “What if one day I’m just … not needed anymore?”

You could feel how ashamed he was for even admitting it out loud. Changbin laughed softly afterward, but there wasn’t anything amused about it. “I know how it sounds.”

“No”, you whispered gently. “I think that sounds lonely.” That made his expression falter slightly. He leaned his head back against the chair behind him with a tired sigh. “I’ve spent so much of my life trying to keep up”, he admitted quietly. “Trying to work harder. Be better. Improve more. Be the best version of myself.”

His fingers tightened unconsciously around the blanket wrapped around both of you.

“And later it feels like no matter how much I do, there’s always someone newer, younger and better.”

“Bin-“

“I know they deserve success too”, he interrupted softly. “That’s not the problem.”

His voice lowered further. “I just don’t know who I am if people stop needing me someday.” Something about his words shattered something inside of you. Because suddenly everything made sense.

The constant schedules. The inability to rest. The exhaustion he wore like armor. He wasn’t just scared of failure. He was terrified of becoming replaceable.

“You really think the people who love you only stay because of what you provide for them?”, you asked softly. He looked away instantly.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s what you fear.”

His throat bobbed slightly before he admitted. “Maybe.”

The word came out barely audible. And somehow that hurt more than anything else. You lifted your hand slowly, brushing your fingers gently against his cheek. “Seo Changbin”, you whispered carefully, waiting until he looked at you again. “You’re not replaceable.”

Something in his expression cracked slightly at that.

You continued softly: “Your music is not replaceable. Your voice is not replaceable. The way you care about people is not replaceable. You as a person are not replaceable.”

His gaze dropped for a second. “You say that because you love me.”

“I say that because it’s the truth. And yeah I love you too, but that’s not the point now.”

He stared down at his hands resting against your waist. “I think I forgot how to separate who I am from what I do”, he admitted quietly.

“That’s not your fault.” You brushed your fingers through his hair softly, feeling him relax slightly beneath your touch. “You know what I think?”, you murmured.

“What?”

“I think you’ve spent to long trying to stay needed that you forgot people already love you without conditions.” His eyes flickered slightly. “You don’t have to constantly prove why you deserve space in people’s lives.”

He looked at you quietly after that, digesting your words.

“You know what scares me the most?”, he asked suddenly. You shook your head slightly.

“That one day people will stop looking for me.” The confession landed softly between you.

You moved one of your hands to rest against his chest beneath the hoodie. He flinched at the contact with your cold hand, but nevertheless his eyes stayed glued to your face. His heartbeat felt fast and restless.

“Do you know what happens when people truly love someone?”, you asked quietly. Now his one of his hand found yours underneath his hoodie, warming the cold skin.

“What?”

“They grow with them.” His brows furrowed faintly.

“People aren’t standing beside you because you’re trendy”, you whispered. “They stay because of who you are.”

The city lights reflected in his eyes as he listened silently. “You’ve made people feel understood”, you continued softly. “Comforted. Safe. That doesn’t disappear just because time passes.”

He looked visibly emotional now in a way he was trying hard to hide. “You make it sound easy.”

“It’s not easy.”

Your hand drew reassuring circles on his skin, almost absentminded.

“I think I’m tired of feeling like I always have to fight to stay relevant”, he added quietly and the honesty in his voice shattered you. You wrapped your arms around him tighter immediately. “You shouldn’t have to warn your worth every single day”, you whispered. His face buried briefly against your shoulder and you felt him exhale shakily.

“I don’t know how to stop thinking like this.”

“You don’t have to fix it overnight.”

The city glowed endlessly beneath you – alive, restless. But up here, hidden away from it all, Changbin finally looked tired enough to let himself be honest.

“You know my favorite thing about you?”, you asked softly after a while.

He lifted his head slightly. “What?”

“The way you care. Your laugh. The way you always manage to make me laugh. The way you make sure everyone around you is ok. Your talent. Your creativity.  Your patience. Everything.”

You brushed your forehead gently against his. “You care about people so deeply that sometimes you forget you deserve the same kind of care too.”

He stared at you quietly. “You really don’t think I am not replaceable?”, he asked softly. Your heart nearly broke at how genuine the question sounded. You cupped his face carefully in your hands. “Never. You’re one in a trillion.”

His eyes closed briefly at your words. And for the first time all night, the tension in his shoulders finally eased. Not completely, but enough.

“I love you so freaking much”, he whispered weakly, nuzzling his nose against your throat, making you chuckle. You stayed like this for a while. Minutes passed in silence, where you didn’t say anything. But words weren’t needed in that moment. The only thing that mattered was that you were by each other’s sides, holding each other. Letting the other know they were not alone.

Your face fell into his neck and your body grew heavier. Both of your breaths seemed to be in sync – slow and peaceful. You felt him turning his face to yours and press his lips on your temple. “My tired baby”, he cooed and got up on his feet, carrying you carefully in his arms.

“I cn wak”, you murmured.

“What?”

“I can walk”, you mumbled again and he laughed quietly, while carrying you inside the warmth of the living room. “I know you can, baby. But let me take care of you”, he replied and carried you into the bathroom.

Seating you gentle onto the edge of the bathtub, which you barely processed because your eyelids were about to shut fully, he reached for the cabinet with your facial cleanser.

“What are you doing?”, you asked sleep drunk, gripping the edge of the bathtub tightly to not fall in. He grabbed the item he was looking for and knelt in front of you, applying the content on your face. “Removing your make up, before bringing you to bed”, he whispered, fully concentrated on his doing.

You couldn’t help but start smiling. “You’re the most amazing boyfriend ever, do you know that?”, you mumbled and leaned a bit forward, to give him an easier access to your skin. He chuckled lowly. He took a cotton pad and gently removed the eyeshadow and mascara.

Eventually he grabbed your moisturizer and applied it to your face. “I’d need your help with brushing your teeth”, he laughed and you opened your eyes again, seeing his frame blurred for a second before coming back to normal.

“What?”, you mumbled, almost falling into his arms. “Oh, baby”, he cooed and helped you up to the sink. “We’re almost done”, he added softly and you came back to your senses, while reaching for your toothbrush and toothpaste. You grumbled quietly and started brushing your teeth in slow circles.

You could see Bin standing behind you in the mirror and leaned back only to be held by him. It was quiet except for the sound of the brushing and you noticed that your movements started to slow down again.

He laughed again and gently grabbed your hand holding the brush and started helping you to move the brush. “Just like that. In slow circles.” After a while you bent over, spitting the paste into the sink and washed out your mouth.

“Good job”, he praised you and took your hand, guiding you to your bedroom. The lights were dim, almost warm. “Think you can manage to get dressed yourself or are you going to fall asleep mid getting changed?”, he joked with a warm smile.

You nodded tiredly, grabbing your pyjamas while he turned around, respecting your privacy. You shook your head in amusement and changed into your pyjamas on your own and climbed into bed, pulling the blankets up around yourself.

“You can turn around now. Even though there is nothing you haven’t already seen”, you chuckled. His ears turned red, while he turned around and sat down on the edge of the bed next to you. “I am just trying to be a gentleman”, he claimed and you smiled in satisfaction. He shot a smile to you, while he grabbed your hand, softly squeezing it. “Now go to sleep, you look exhausted”, he whispered and you squeezed his hand back.

“So should you”, you said, turning to your side to look at him properly. “Think you can sleep now? Will you give it a try?”, you added and he nodded. “Yeah, I am going to brush my teeth and get changed and then go to bed.”

“Okay, I will wait for you”, you said, but he was quick to shake his head. “No way, you should rest now. I promise I will be with you shortly. Now go to sleep, okay?”, he leaned down and pressed his lips on your forehead. You didn’t fight back, but you knew you would wait for him, because you wanted to make sure that he was really going to sleep tonight. Even if you had to fight sleep.

You watched him leave the bedroom and laid there in silence. You could barely hear the water running in the bathroom, probably coming from the sink. It got harder and harder to keep your eyes open, but you were determined. You didn’t know how many minutes had passed, when the door to the bedroom opened again and you could hear his soft footsteps tapping against the wooden floor.

When he saw that you were still awake, his gaze softened with a hint of something taunting. “Oh, didn’t I tell you not to wait for me?” He got rid off his t-shirt, only having his pyjama pants on when he climbed into bed next to you. He quickly engulfed you into a tight hug – warm and welcoming.

“Gosh, did I ever tell you how much I love your arms? They are like soft clouds”, you mumbled and snuggled into him. His bare chest vibrated against you as he laughed. “And your back, hmm, so strong, I can feel the muscles”, you continued, while your fingers caressed his back.

Before he could even say anything, you added some more. “And the way you smell. Hmmm.”

You could feel his body heating up, and it was exactly your intention. You keep him distracted from his thoughts and to let him know how amazing he actually was. You combed your fingers through his hair, gently pulling on it. “And your hair is so soft, I love that new shampoo that you’re using . And-“

He was now full on laughing – from his whole chest. And it was the most beautiful sound ever. It was your favorite sound on his planet, in the whole galaxy.

“Okay, okay, if you keep continue doing this, I am going to combust from embarrassment”, he chuckled and you were satisfied with his reaction for now. “Ok, I am done for tonight, but I will keep reminding you how amazing you are. Now go to sleep and don’t you dare to get up before noon. You should get a normal amount of sleep this night”, you mumbled with your eyes closed.

You could clearly feel his smile against your head. “Ok, miss.”